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  • Giving back means ‘everything’ to Labaron Philon Jr. — and it gave Sunrise’s campers a day to remember

    Giving back means ‘everything’ to Labaron Philon Jr. — and it gave Sunrise’s campers a day to remember

    The entrance to the Kaiserman JCC gymnasium in Wynnewood was lined with members of the Sixers Stixers drum line, keeping rhythm to welcome Sunrise Day Camp students as they arrived Monday in a mix of 76ers jerseys and formalwear.

    The mixed attire summed up Sunrise’s campers agenda for the day: prom and a Sixers basketball clinic.

    Sunrise Day Camp is a free summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings. The basketball clinic, in conjunction with the Sixers Youth Foundation, is just one of the many events held at the camp. Jennifer Rebetti, the senior director of Sunrise Day Camp in Philadelphia, said the goal is to make every day “the most magical day,” and “the magic was overflowing” in the penultimate day of summer camp.

    Campers participate in a basketball clinic with the 76ers at Sunrise Day Camp on Monday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    “We found out last Wednesday that they would be joining us, and it’s been a week of excitement,” Rebetti said. “The lead up is ‘who’s coming, who are they going to meet?’ and at the end of the day I don’t think it matters who they meet, it just matters that the Sixers Youth Foundation is there for them again because every time, we love partnering with them, they’ve just been fantastic.”

    While the campers enjoyed activities and games with the Jr. 76ers and Franklin the Dog, the real surprise came as Sunrise participants did their daily sendoff and were joined by the Sixers’ first-round draft pick Labaron Philon Jr.

    A LeBron fan’s guide to Sixers fandom: A fun song, weird injuries, and a divisive ‘Process’

    The rookie met with the campers and signed autographs, later offering remarks about what it meant to him to be there.

    “It means everything,” Philon said. “Being out here, being able to come out here and see the kids and see everybody around and just get in the community a little bit. I feel like that’s always been an important thing for me. So just continuing to do that, I feel like that’s a fun thing.”

    But Philon wasn’t the only one giving back on Monday.

    Counselor Jadon Sephes, 16, was once in the shoes of the campers as a sibling. For him, the camp offered a sense of normalcy in his everyday life. Now he wants to pass that same feeling on to the campers.

    Campers arrive for a basketball clinic with the 76ers at Sunrise Day Camp on Monday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    “You’re forgetting that ‘I have to go through this and that’ during my daily day, and I can just be a normal kid without having to talk about what’s going on with my sibling or myself,” Sephes said.

    Rebetti said that is the intention of the camp, serving as an equalizer and allowing campers to “just be themselves” as they navigate difficult circumstances.

    “This place really is the place that equalizes everybody,” Rebetti said. “Whether you’re the primary person with cancer or you’re the sibling of a kid with cancer, it’s really hard to be either of those people, and this place is where it all comes together, and they just get to be siblings, and they just get to be friends, and they just get to be kids. … I think at the end of the day, they walk away with smiles and laughter and the sense that they really belong and are included in something super special.”

  • A new trial is ordered for a man convicted in the slaying of Philly police officer in 2012

    A new trial is ordered for a man convicted in the slaying of Philly police officer in 2012

    A Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge on Monday ordered a new trial for a man serving a life sentence for the death of a police officer in 2012, reportedly citing the connection of disgraced ex-homicide detective Philip Nordo to the case.

    Court records show that Judge Jennifer Schultz vacated the 2014 murder conviction of Rafael Jones, who was sentenced the following year to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the fatal shooting of Officer Moses Walker during a street robbery after the end of his shift on Aug. 18, 2012.

    KYW Newsradio reported the judge cited the case’s connection to Nordo, who was convicted in 2022 of sexually abusing witnesses and suspects.

    During Nordo’s trial, one of his accusers was an informant in the Walker homicide investigation who said Nordo helped steer a $20,000 reward to the man and then, years later, raped him.

    Multiple cases involving Nordo, including murder convictions, have been overturned in recent years.

    District Attorney Larry Krasner said he would address the order for a new trial at a news conference Tuesday.

    Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said in a statement: “I am disappointed by today’s decision, particularly for the family of Officer Moses Walker and every member of this Department who continues to carry his loss.”

    Bethel added: “At the same time, we respect the court and the legal process. We remain confident in the evidence surrounding this case and believe that, when the process is complete, the individual responsible for Officer Walker’s murder will continue to be held accountable and will never again walk free.”

    Jones and Chancier McFarland were arrested during the homicide investigation. McFarland pleaded guilty and testified against Jones as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid life in prison.

    A lawyer for Jones could not be reached for comment. According to court records Monday, Jones was being held at the State Correctional Institution in Chester City.

    Shortly before dawn on Aug. 18, 2012, the 40-year-old Walker left the 22nd District station at 17th Street and Montgomery Avenue in North Philadelphia dressed in civilian clothes — shorts, athletic jacket, and baseball cap — and carrying a backpack and wearing earphones.

    Walker was targeted, McFarland testified, because he looked like a student from nearby Temple University — “an easy mark.”

    McFarland testified that Jones shot Walker when the officer reached for a weapon.

    After Walker collapsed at Woodstock Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue, McFarland said, he grabbed the officer’s iPod and earphones before taking off.

  • After allegations of a ‘toxic climate’ at Frankford High, the school will have a new principal for the first time in a decade

    After allegations of a ‘toxic climate’ at Frankford High, the school will have a new principal for the first time in a decade

    For the first time in more than a decade, Frankford High is getting a new principal.

    Michael Calderone, who has served as Frankford’s principal since 2015, told the staff on Friday that he’s leaving to become the interim principal of Dobson Elementary in Manayunk.

    Calderone’s move comes after the district conducted an audit of what some staff said was a “toxic” climate at the school and serious allegations about Calderone, including that he struck a student and retaliated against teachers who spoke out against him.

    ‘Toxic’ climate at Frankford High prompts a Philadelphia School District probe

    District officials did not comment on the results of the climate audit, but typically do not discuss personnel matters.

    Calderone said, in a letter sent to Frankford staff and obtained by The Inquirer, that the move to Dobson “holds tremendous personal and professional significance for me” because he began his career there, as teacher and dean.

    “Returning to lead the school where I first developed my passion for educational leadership feels very much like a homecoming and has always been a dream of mine,” Calderone wrote.

    Noah Tennant, the interim associate superintendent for secondary schools, said in an email to Frankford staff that Calderone “is a school leader with a proven track record of improving student outcomes, leading school transformation, and building collaborative systems. His leadership and contributions to the Frankford High community will leave an indelible impact on all he served.”

    Mary Jackson, a retired Philadelphia principal who’s served as Frankford’s interim leader in the past, will be “guest principal” while the district searches for a replacement for Calderone, Tennant said in the letter.

    “In the coming months, the district will initiate a process to identify the next permanent principal who will continue the important work underway and ensure every student and staff member is supported,” Tennant wrote.

    A Frankford climate audit

    The first public hint of controversy happened in early 2026, when Frankford’s budget, like spending plans across the school system, was shrunk because of district-wide cuts. Calderone ordered a number of teachers’ jobs cut out of seniority order, a move that was protested by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, and ultimately overturned.

    The PFT and teachers say the targeted educators — whom Calderone said he moved to advance academic goals — were ones who had spoken out against him, they told The Inquirer.

    At the same time, a number of current and former Frankford staff raised allegations about significant culture issues at the school, and the district conducted the audit.

    Michael Calderone is shown in his office at Frankford High in this 2023 file photo.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    According statements from multiple staffers made to the district and PFT and obtained by The Inquirer, Calderone, who earned citywide recognition for his work at the comprehensive high school, was a volatile leader who forced out many capable staffers.

    Some staff said the principal screamed at adults and students on multiple occasions. They also said he made improper requests, including asking teachers to provide grades for students in classes they did not teach.

    Others said he spoke openly about intentions to get rid of staff members who were not allies, to force out staff who he believed were opposed to him.

    Two staffers also told the district that Calderone punched a student who had assaulted multiple Frankford staffers. The staff did not report the assault when it happened because they were afraid for their jobs, they said.

    Other Frankford staffers agreed that there was widespread discord at the school, but say those who opposed Calderone contributed to the toxicity.

    Arthur Steinberg, PFT president, who had previously said that he did not believe Calderone was fit to run Frankford “or any school at all,” in a statement Monday commended the Frankford staff who brought concerns to the administration.

    “Thanks to their bravery and persistence, Frankford will be a healthier, more positive place to learn and work for all,” Steinberg said. “It is our hope that whoever is assigned to replace Dr. Calderone is able to reset the working environment for staff, so that Frankford is once again the warm, welcoming school community it was before he arrived.”

    ‘Thank you for your trust’

    Calderone, in his letter to Frankford staff, said he was particularly grateful for the community’s resilience during a tough time — the hulking main Frankford building was shut for multiple years because of asbestos issues, with students scattered between multiple buildings. He said he was also proud of Frankford’s aviation and hospitality programs, launched during his tenure at the school.

    “Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and the memories we have shared,” Calderone wrote. “I have every confidence that Frankford High School will continue to thrive and achieve great things. I wish you all the absolute best. Frankford will always be the ‘Home of Champions’. But never forget: every champion was once just a contender who refused to give up. I ask you to carry that relentless, unbroken spirit with you into every new day. Thank you for letting me walk this path alongside you.”

    Calderone will be moving to a very different school than the one he’s led for 11 years.

    Frankford educates about 900 students in its massive Oxford Avenue building. Dobson, a K-8 on Umbria Street, educates about 250, though both have large populations of students with disabilities.

    Dobson’s former principal, Khloe Williams-Lawani, accepted another job in the school system.

  • The final defendant was sentenced in the murder of a West Philly Parks and Recreation employee

    The final defendant was sentenced in the murder of a West Philly Parks and Recreation employee

    A third defendant has been sentenced in the death of Tiffany Fletcher, a Philadelphia Parks and Recreation employee who was struck by a stray bullet during a 2022 shooting in West Philly.

    Tevin Kee, 20, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, conspiracy, and gun charges in April. On Monday, he was sentenced to 12½ to 25 years in prison, according to Assistant District Attorney Jeff Hojnowski.

    Fletcher was sweeping outside the Mill Creek Recreation Center where she worked on a September afternoon, when two groups of youths began shooting at each other. Fletcher, caught in the crossfire at 47th and Brown Streets, was struck by a stray bullet in her torso and died. She was 41 years old, and a mother of three.

    The case sparked outrage, as Fletcher’s death came to represent how dangerous Philadelphia had become in the years immediately following the pandemic.

    Tiffany Fletcher (center, yellow tank top) was photographed with lifeguard Robin Borlandoe, 70, (immediate left), assistant recreation leader Charles McKnight (just above Tiffany) and other staff and volunteers at the Mill Creek Recreation Center pool in August 2022.ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer

    Kee was the final defendant to be sentenced. Two others pleaded guilty to similar charges in the case. In 2024, Makie Jones was sentenced 10 to 20 years, and Malik Flegler was sentenced to 12½ to 25 years. Jones was arrested on the day of the shooting, and Flegler was arrested weeks later.

    But Kee, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, was not arrested until last year, at a traffic stop in Lower Pottsgrove Township. All three suspects were teenagers at the time of Fletcher’s death and charged as adults.

    Following Kee’s sentencing, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner made a point to say the legal process in each case was not over. He said each defendant would have parole board hearings once they had served their minimum sentences, and referenced statistics indicating most defendants typically serve greater time than their minimums.

    “Justice wasn’t done,” said Geraldine Fletcher, Tiffany’s mother. She said she wasn’t satisfied with any of the sentences, and said she hoped the three individuals suffered for eternity. Geraldine Fletcher said the family would participate in those parole hearings to share the pain of their loss.

    Until then, Fletcher’s family and community will continue to honor her memory. The Mill Creak Recreation Center and its pool was renamed for Fletcher in 2023, and in April, City Council adopted a resolution to rename the 4700 block of Brown Street, “Tiffany Fletcher Way — Gone But Never Forgotten.”

    A sign at the renamed Tiffany Fletcher Recreation Center (formerly Mill Creek) in West Philadelphia in June 2023.Heather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
  • MLS’s new commissioner will be Cherry Hill native Larry Berg, a LAFC part-owner

    MLS’s new commissioner will be Cherry Hill native Larry Berg, a LAFC part-owner

    NEW YORK – Larry Berg, a member of Los Angeles FC’s ownership group with roots in Cherry Hill, has been elected as the new commissioner of Major League Soccer.

    He will officially take the reins on Jan. 1, with current commissioner Don Garber keeping the job until then. Garber will then take the role of chairman.

    “Thanks to the vision and commitment of so many people, Major League Soccer has achieved tremendous success, but I believe our greatest opportunities are still ahead,” Berg said in a statement. “We have an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the quality of our competition, develop more world-class players, deepen our connection with supporters, and continue elevating Major League Soccer’s place in the global game. Together with our owners, clubs, players, partners, supporters, and league staff, I could not be more excited for what comes next.”

    A formal news conference will take place Tuesday at the league’s Manhattan headquarters. Monday’s vote took place there, with representatives of all 30 teams’ ownership groups.

    Larry Berg poses for a photo at MLS headquarters after being elected as the league’s new commissioner.Major League Soccer

    “Having worked closely with Larry over the past decade, I’ve seen firsthand the qualities that make him an exceptional leader, and I have complete confidence he is the right person to serve as Major League Soccer’s next commissioner,” Garber said. “His integrity, judgment, collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to building LAFC and the league have made him an invaluable partner. I look forward to working alongside Larry during this transition and supporting him as he leads MLS into its next chapter.”

    Berg, 60, has been part of LAFC’s ownership group since the team launched in 2018. He will be just the league’s third commissioner since it launched in 1996. Doug Logan had the job from 1995-99, and Garber has had it ever since.

    This summer created World Cup fans, but that’s not the same as soccer fans. MLS must bridge the gap.

    Berg topped David Nathanson, a former Fox Sports executive with ownership stakes in teams including the Seattle Sounders, NWSL’s Angel City FC, and NHL’s Seattle Kraken.

    Those were the only two candidates, and just one other was known to have been in the race: veteran San Francisco 49ers and Leeds United executive Paraag Marathe. He took himself out in mid-July.

    Don Garber has been MLS commissioner since 1999.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    Berg has recently been co-chair of MLS’s powerful sporting and competition committee. That group is in charge of setting the league’s roster rules, including a long-anticipated overhaul to push the pace harder in the global game. That overhaul seems close to arriving, and no doubt Berg will be a leading figure in presenting it to the public.

    He also has quite a few ties to the Philadelphia area. He’s a Cherry Hill native who played soccer at Cherry Hill East High, and attended Penn’s Wharton business school. He’s a Philadelphia sports fan, from the Eagles to soccer’s Atoms back in the day, and his wife is from the city.

    This summer’s World Cup served as the ultimate proof of how big global soccer stars have become in America

    Berg’s career away from soccer has been in the investment world. He knows 76ers lead owner Josh Harris well, having worked at Apollo Global Capital and Harris’ newer 26 North investment firm.

    Of course, Berg’s fandom hasn’t extended to the local MLS team here, but that’s no surprise. He has helped build LAFC’s juggernaut, with a history of stars and a 2022 MLS Cup title at the Union’s expense.

    Now everyone will see if his business acumen with a club can translate to the overall league.

    Larry Berg (left) with his wife Allison, a Philadelphia native.FilmMagic

    Nathanson spent many years in the media world. His biggest feat was helping Fox land World Cup broadcast rights starting in 2015, after ESPN had held them for decades. He was also involved in deals for Concacaf tournaments and other soccer properties. After leaving Fox in 2017, Nathanson became an investor in a wide variety of areas, including sports teams.

    Coincidentally, he also has ties to Philadelphia as a Penn alum, and is a regular visitor to the city. His top selling point as a candidate is having TV rights experience, with MLS already starting to look for its next round of big deals. The all-in-one Apple package will end in 2029, and Fox’s small package of linear broadcasts expires after this year.

    Nathanson declined to comment when approached, but he no doubt will be heard from in other ways in the sport.

    Union president Tim McDermott discusses signing ‘bigger name players,’ a Philly stadium, and much more after a World Cup reset

    Union principal owner Jay Sugarman told The Inquirer he was pleased with Berg’s victory.

    “We had two very impressive candidates, and both of them had clear plans on how to build on Don Garber’s legacy, which gives us a lot of excitement for the future,” Sugarman said. “I think Larry understands this league inside and out, and I’m excited to move forward with him.”

  • Pa. health officials release new data on measles vaccinations, showing slight drops in the Philly area

    Pa. health officials release new data on measles vaccinations, showing slight drops in the Philly area

    Pennsylvania officials on Monday released a new interactive tool where parents can look up vaccination rates at their children’s schools for the 2025-26 academic year.

    The tool’s release comes after months of reporting from The Inquirer and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette showed falling vaccination rates over the last several years in counties and individual schools around Pennsylvania.

    “At a time when misinformation and conspiracy theories are sowing distrust in longstanding medical guidance, and reversing decades of science-backed progress, it’s more important than ever that [the state health department] provide Pennsylvanians with as much accurate information as possible,” state officials said in a statement.

    The tool was launched amid an ongoing measles outbreak in Pennsylvania. So far this year, the state has seen 176 measles cases in 14 counties, with 35 new cases reported in the last week. Nearly three dozen people have been hospitalized. None were fully vaccinated against the highly contagious virus, which can infect 9 in 10 unvaccinated people exposed to it.

    In all of 2025, the state reported 16 measles cases.

    Philadelphia-area vaccination rates

    The latest data on measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination coverage in the Philadelphia area show that vaccination rates for kindergartners dropped slightly, by less than 1%, in Philadelphia and three of four suburban counties between the 2024 and 2025 school years.

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    On the county level, no Philadelphia-area counties reported vaccination rates at or above 95% for kindergartners.

    That is the “herd immunity” threshold, the rate scientists say is necessary to prevent the spread of the virus.

    Bucks County had the lowest MMR vaccination rate for kindergartners, at 93.7%, down from 94.3% the year before.

    In Chester County, vaccination rates for kindergartners held steady at 94.5% for both 2024 and 2025. Chester has confirmed 20 measles cases this year and is the only Philadelphia-area county to report cases in the current outbreak, which began in April.

    Some counties saw slight rises in vaccination rates for seventh or 12th graders, but Delaware County saw slight drops in vaccination rates across grade levels.

    The newly released data also show more parents are using exemptions to opt out of vaccination. Pennsylvania has among the most permissive vaccination exemption provisions in the country; parents can opt not to vaccinate for religious, philosophical, or medical reasons.

    Medical exemptions decreased by 7% in the Philadelphia region between 2024 and 2025, but religious exemptions jumped by 14% and philosophical exemptions increased by 19%.

    Statewide vaccination rates

    Schools are required by state law to report their vaccination rates for kindergarten, seventh, and 12th grades; more than 90% of schools complied, state officials said.

    According to the new dashboard, schools reported vaccination data from 5,943 grades. The dashboard obscures data from grades with enrollment below 20 students to protect privacy.

    Statewide, more than half of reporting kindergartens had MMR vaccination rates above the herd immunity threshold, state officials said.

    Seventh- and 12th-grade classes were more likely to report vaccination rates at or above 95%, with 74% of seventh-grade classes and 83% of 12th-grade classes reaching herd immunity, officials said.

    Staff writer Sarah Gantz contributed to this article.

  • In a ‘remarkable act of violence,’ a Delco man opened fire at a Walmart checkout, DA says

    In a ‘remarkable act of violence,’ a Delco man opened fire at a Walmart checkout, DA says

    A Clifton Heights man who fired a gun three times in a crowded Walmart, injuring a bystander, has been charged with attempted murder, Delaware County prosecutors said Monday.

    Armani Waite, 21, surrendered to police Monday afternoon, but District Attorney Tanner Rouse said investigators had identified him almost immediately after the Friday night shooting and issued a warrant for his arrest.

    Waite remained in custody Monday, in lieu of $1 million bail. His attorney, Arik Benari, did not immediately return a request for comment.

    “It is a remarkable act of violence, and it is really extraordinary that more people were not hurt by this,” Rouse said, noting that more than 30 people were standing in the store’s self-checkout area when Waite drew his gun.

    “This could have been an absolute calamity, and the truth of the matter is it’s his own ineptitude that kept this from being a whole lot worse.”

    District Attorney Tanner Rouse said Armani Waite was clearly the aggressor in Friday’s shooting, and targeted a man he had a “relatively innocuous” conversation with moments earlier.Vinny Vella / Staff

    Rouse said the shooting took place after a “relatively innocuous, relatively short” verbal dispute between Armani and another customer in the store, located on MacDade Boulevard in Glenolden.

    During the dispute, the other man lifted his shirt to show Waite he had a gun tucked into the waistband of his pants, according to the affidavit of probable cause for Waite’s arrest. When the other man turned around to leave, Waite drew his own gun and began firing, Rouse said.

    One of the bullets flew through a glass door and struck a female employee as she was standing outside the store, he said. She was treated for her injuries and is in stable condition, according to the prosecutor.

    Waite does not have a license to carry a concealed weapon, according to investigators. The man he targeted does have a concealed-carry permit, authorities said, and does not face criminal charges.

    Rouse said it was unclear what the two men were arguing about, but stressed that Waite was solely responsible for the shooting.

    “There is no basis for him to say ‘I was in fear for my life,’” Rouse said. “He was the aggressor here, plain and simple.”

    Waite dropped the gun as he fled the store, and it was later recovered by investigators. He also dropped the keys to his car, which investigators used to identify Waite and track him down, according to Rouse.

    He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 11.

  • Moro Ojomo watched fellow defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis get paid. He’s using it as motivation.

    Moro Ojomo watched fellow defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis get paid. He’s using it as motivation.

    Moro Ojomo is aware of the self-described “elephant in the room” — the 2023 seventh-round pick out of Texas is going into his contract year.

    But this elephant carries a little more weight given the circumstances.

    Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, Ojomo’s teammates on the interior defensive line, inked hefty contract extensions this offseason. Carter, 25, will be the NFL’s highest-paid defensive lineman on an average annual basis ($38 million) when his four year, $152 contract extension begins in 2028.

    Davis won’t be too far behind him at $26 million per year, ranking fifth among interior defensive linemen.

    Jeffrey Lurie will continue to open up his wallet as the top young stars on Vic Fangio’s defense, such as Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, become eligible for contract extensions. Fangio had a message for Howie Roseman on Thursday regarding how Ojomo ought to fit into his future .

    “Howie needs to save some money for him, too,” Fangio said.

    Whether Ojomo will be next in line to get paid remains in question. Still, there’s no doubt about how their paydays will impact Ojomo’s mindset heading into Year 4.

    “That just motivates me more,” Ojomo said on Monday. “I’ve always kind of been a hungry guy. Always kind of had the chip on my shoulder. So to see both of those guys succeed at a high level, I just want to succeed more.”

    Moro Ojomo is trying to build on a strong 2025 season. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Ojomo, who turns 25 in August, had a breakout season in 2025, ranking second on the team with six sacks. With another standout performance, he could earn himself a substantial pay raise. But it might serve him best to test the market as a free agent like Milton Williams did last offseason when he signed a four-year, $104 million deal with the New England Patriots.

    Alas, Ojomo isn’t an agent. He pays one of the top-performing NFL agents — David Mulugheta of Athletes First — to handle his contract negotiations. Their professional relationship is relatively new, too, as Ojomo became a client of the agency in February.

    Rather than dwell on his uncertain future in Philadelphia, Ojomo is choosing to focus on his on-field performance. So, when asked if it was his choice to go into the final year of his contract without signing an extension, Ojomo acknowledged he is following Mulugheta’s lead.

    “Obviously, there’s no agreement as of right now,” Ojomo said. “[Recently extended Tennessee Titans defensive tackle] Jeff Simmons is with the agency, right? We’ve got a lot of really big, talented players. So I really do believe that [Mulugheta] can do his job at a high level. And I know that if I’m trying to do his job for him, I’m going to become a worse player.”

    Nolan Smith Jr. calls arrest for speeding ‘unacceptable’: ‘I represent the Eagles no matter where I go’

    After all, Ojomo has bigger issues to worry about, starting with his opponents in training camp on the Eagles offensive line.

    “I got to go out there and I got to go produce,” Ojomo said. “I got to go out there and I got to go play. I’m worried about freaking Jordan Mailata and Landon [Dickerson]’s heavy asses. I can’t be thinking about [my contract].”

    A rising tide could lift all ships on the Eagles defensive line in 2026, much to Ojomo’s benefit. Carter is healthy again after shoulder injuries hampered his performance in 2025. Back in 2024, Carter drew his fair share of double teams, and Williams capitalized on his one-on-ones by finishing the year with five sacks (ranking third on the Eagles).

    Moro Ojomo was helped by the presence of the Eagles’ other talented defensive linemen. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Before the defensive line can wreak havoc against opposing quarterbacks on Sundays, the group must jell in training camp. Over the first four practices, Ojomo, Carter, and Davis have each flashed against the Jalen Hurts-led starting offense, both as pass rushers and run stoppers.

    Ojomo might be trying not to count the contents of his teammates’ pockets, but he is counting on them to help raise the standard for the entire group.

    “We’ve got an extremely loaded room,” Ojomo said. “Those guys know I compete. Those guys know that I’m not backing down from anything. So the goal and the aim is always to be the best defensive tackle. That’s my mindset.

    “I want to make more plays. I want to get more sacks. I want to make more [tackles for loss], and I want to be the best in the room and the best in the league. Ultimately, I think if we all have that mindset, we’ll bring the best out of each other.”

  • Todd Blanche is a Trump enforcer. He has no business being attorney general. | Editorial

    Todd Blanche is a Trump enforcer. He has no business being attorney general. | Editorial

    It appears acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche may have done his squirrelly best to secure enough Senate votes to make his position permanent.

    But any way you slice it, Blanche remains wholly unfit to serve as the People’s Lawyer.

    It is particularly alarming that only two Republican senators on their way out of the door even questioned Blanche’s nomination. That says more about the sorry state of the GOP that continues to place Donald Trump above the rule of law, and the need for voters to stop the madness.

    Outgoing Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina had threatened to block Blanche’s confirmation, but both now appear ready to fall in line after he confirmed in writing that the U.S. Department of Justice would abandon “parts” of a sweetheart deal it gave to Trump to avoid IRS audits and create a $1.8 billion slush fund to reward lawbreakers.

    The rest of the Republican senators apparently are poised to just ignore the corrupt actions of the Justice Department during Blanche’s tenure in exchange for avoiding any unhinged social media posts from the president.

    After initially refusing to do so, Blanche finally put in writing two documents that appeased the slush fund and tax deal concerns raised by Cornyn and Tillis.

    Blanche signed one memo that said the $1.8 billion fund “is rescinded and shall have no force or effect.”

    However, he didn’t have the nerve to sign the second memo that made clear that — unlike every other American — Trump, two of his sons, and the Trump Organization are immune from past tax audits. (The only concession here is that future tax returns could still be audited.)

    Even still, as the acting attorney general, Blanche negotiated the deal that frees Trump and his family from past audits — an unprecedented and potentially illegal perk that may be worth $100 million in unpaid back taxes and penalties.

    Trump isn’t done interfering with elections | Editorial

    Apparently, Cornyn, Tillis, and every other Republican senator, including Pennsylvania’s Dave McCormick, are fine with that Trump tax dodge.

    Voters should remember these embarrassing words from McCormick: “I think Todd Blanche would be a fine attorney general.” Particularly because the record says otherwise.

    There is no trusting that Blanche’s Justice Department won’t find ways to reward Trump supporters. The president promised over the weekend to restore the slush fund.

    Indeed, a man who was convicted and later pardoned by Trump after conspiring to block access to an abortion clinic already received a $1 million taxpayer-funded payout from the Justice Department.

    As for the tax deal Blanche secured for his boss, seeing how Trump has avoided paying taxes for years, there is little reason to believe he will do so going forward.

    Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas) (left) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) have dropped their objections to Todd Blanche becoming attorney general.ALEX KENT

    Even beyond the outrageous tax scheme and the slush fund, Blanche has never truly stopped serving as Trump’s personal attorney — a role that has enriched and empowered the once obscure federal prosecutor.

    Blanche’s supreme loyalty to Trump and willingness to abuse the rule of law to please his boss has tarnished the independence and trust in the Justice Department.

    Federal judges have repeatedly rebuked Justice Department lawyers for lying, ignoring orders, and skipping deadlines — actions that were extremely rare before Trump.

    As the Justice Department’s No. 2 official, Blanche played the lead role in protecting Trump from the fallout from the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Nearly half the files involving the accused sex offender and close friend of Trump’s still have not been released, and many that have been made public are redacted.

    The way out of Trump’s failed Iran war | Editorial

    As the political fallout for Trump grew, Blanche, in a highly unusual move, personally interviewed Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in helping Epstein recruit, groom, and abuse underage girls.

    Shortly after the meeting, Maxwell was transferred to a minimum-security prison camp, despite the Bureau of Prisons policy that prohibits housing sex offenders in lenient lockups. Will her silence about Trump’s dealings with Epstein lead to an eventual pardon?

    Blanche has also abused his power at the Justice Department by presiding over efforts to indict, investigate, and harass Trump’s perceived political enemies, including bogus legal attacks aimed at former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, former Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, and others.

    Federal prosecutors just dropped charges against a former Olympian who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a ridiculous case that was ginned up to protect Trump after a crony contractor botched the repairs.

    Grand juries have rejected other pathetic cases brought by the Justice Department to punish critics of Trump, including one attempt to indict a man for throwing a sandwich at an immigration enforcement agent.

    The cases echo what occurs under authoritarian regimes, and underscore that private citizens are not safe from the legal abuses by the Trump-Blanche Justice Department.

    Blanche has demonstrated he has no business pursuing justice. Voters should hold to account any elected officials who green-light such legal abuses.

  • Philly school district promotes some administrators, changes principals elsewhere. Here’s a rundown.

    Philly school district promotes some administrators, changes principals elsewhere. Here’s a rundown.

    Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. has announced a flurry of Philadelphia School District shifts in recent weeks, from promotions and principal changes to additional responsibilities for some of his senior officials.

    Changes are common at this point in the school calendar, but this year is particularly busy. The district’s 113,000 students return to school August 24.

    The changes include:

    A new human resources chief

    Kristy Baldwin was named chief talent officer. Baldwin had previously held the position on an interim basis. The district has cycled through a number of talent executives during the Watlington administration.

    Baldwin is the former longtime human resources executive in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where she was credited with lowering teacher vacancies and recruiting a more diverse educator workforce.

    Watlington, in a release, said Baldwin was “battle-tested” and collaborative.

    “Dr. Baldwin brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the district, as well as a demonstrated track record of effectively staffing schools with high-qualified teachers, increasing the number of Black and Latine educators, and working with union leaders,” Watlington said.

    Baldwin officially in her new role on July 27, and will be paid $235,000.

    Changes in assistant superintendents, salaries announced

    Also announced last week was a new role for Kahlia Johnson, who had worked as deputy chief of talent management and recruitment selection. Johnson, the former principal of Overbrook High, is moving to become interim assistant superintendent for a network of district high schools. Johnson will be paid $197,302.

    Johnson replaces Noah Tennant, who was previously announced as associate superintendent for secondary schools. Tomás Hanna, who was associate superintendent for secondary schools, moved over to become associate superintendent for student life and school operations. Hanna will be paid $221,658 per year, and Tennant’s salary will be $215,202.

    In other recent changes that the district identified in recent weeks, Brenda Elliott was named deputy superintendent of academic services. Her salary is $285,488.

    Michael Farrell, chief academic officer, is paid $221,658. Nathalie Nérée, chief of special education, diverse learners and wellness, has a salary of $221,658. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson, senior adviser for strategic initiatives and innovation, is paid $208,627.

    Jamina Clay, assistant superintendent of school management and organization, makes $197,302. Kelly Espinosa, assistant superintendent for Learning Network 4, makes $197,302.

    Interim assistant superintendents Wilfredo Ortiz and Lucy Feria, who will run Learning Networks 8 and 9, respectively, will also be paid $197,302 annually.

    Additional responsibilities for Watlington deputies

    Two of Watlington’s top deputies are also taking on additional responsibilities.

    Alexandra Coppadge Wright is now supervising the operations, external and community affairs departments. Coppadge Wright, the chief of communications and customer service, was already supervising the Office of Communications, Office of Customer Service, and the Family and Community Engagement Office.

    Sarah Galbally, Watlington’s chief of staff, will add the School Transitions Office to her portfolio. Galbally also handles Board Relations, Government Relations, Grants Development, Strategic Partnerships, and Strategic Planning.

    Both Coppadge Wright and Galbally are paid $225,096 annually.

    Naima DeBrest, a spokesperson for the district, said in a statement that the changes were necessary as the district remains “focused on balancing the budget while recruiting and appointing talented individuals who have a demonstrated track record of improving student outcomes, as we continue to drive towards becoming the fastest-improving, large urban school district in the nation.”

    Principal changes

    A number of district schools have new principals. They are:

    Adaire Elementary, Amanda Strain. Strain had been principal of Waring Elementary.

    Bridesburg Elementary, Louis Depa. Depa had been assistant principal at Pennell Elementary.

    Clemente Middle School, Regina Barr. Barr had been assistant principal at Bluford Elementary.

    Edison High, Albert Sniezevage. Sniezevage had been assistant principal at the school.

    Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, Ryan Sullivan. Sullivan had been assistant principal at Penrose Elementary.

    Heston Elementary, Kamia Smith. Smith had been assistant principal at Heston.

    Lawton Elementary, Michelle Todd-Coleman. Todd-Coleman had been assistant principal at Forrest Elementary.

    Memphis Street Academy, Wayne Diggs. Diggs had been assistant principal at Mastbaum; Memphis Street Academy is reverting back to district control after being a charter school for years.

    Northeast High, Andrew Lukov. Lukov had been principal of Southwark Elementary, he also has experience as a Northeast assistant principal.

    Southwark Elementary, Mason Luksch Wilson. Luksch Wilson had been assistant principal at Elkin Elementary.

    Bayard Taylor Elementary, Claire Charles. Charles had been assistant principal at the school.

    Tilden Middle School, Jessica Culp. Culp had been assistant principal at Comegys Elementary.

    Waring Elementary School, Cathryn Anderson. Anderson had been assistant principal at Bache-Martin Elementary.

    Philadelphia principals are typically paid between $153,296 and $172,636 annually, with salaries set by union contract. Principals are represented by the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators, Teamsters Local 502.