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  • A high-ranking official in Bucks County Sheriff’s office resigns after violating department rule

    A high-ranking official in Bucks County Sheriff’s office resigns after violating department rule

    A high-ranking official resigned from the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office earlier this month after having a few sips of beer at a reception then driving home in a county car, which violated department policy, county sources said.

    Lieutenant Deputy George McClay stepped down from his role after the incident, which occurred during a department reception held at Chambers 19, a Doylestown restaurant, after a July 9 promotion and new hire ceremony at the nearby county courthouse, according to county sources familiar with the incident but not authorized to comment on personnel matters.

    Operating a county vehicle after drinking is a policy violation. McClay, 63, was not accused of driving under the influence, nor wearing his uniform during the incident.

    Sheriff Danny Ceisler, a Democrat who took office in January, confirmed that McClay had stepped down, but would not provide details on an “HR situation.” McClay handled standards enforcement and discipline in the office and there was a conversation among command staff around July 11 as to whether he could properly do that job given the policy infraction, Ceisler said.

    “The collective group felt that he would not be able to do it,” Ceisler said. “He offered his resignation.”

    “It’s pretty difficult once someone has publicly committed a policy violation to have credibility to do that job,” he added.

    Ceisler said he expects to eventually fill McClay’s position.

    McClay denied being asked to step down in an interview Friday, saying the decision to leave was his own.

    “I’m retired,” he said in a call from his home in Ocean County. “I’m 63, and it was time to go.”

    When asked about the policy violation, McClay said he had “no idea” what a reporter was referring to. He chose to retire now, he said, because it’s summertime and he wanted to enjoy the season.

    McClay’s seven-month stint with the sheriff’s office capped off a 40-year career in law enforcement, more than half of which he spent as a Philadelphia Police officer.

    “Lt. McClay has spent over four decades in public service and deserves the opportunity to relax with his family and enjoy life,” Ceisler said.

    Most recently, McClay served as the chief of police in Morrisville, a Bucks County municipality across the Delaware River from Trenton.

    His nine-year tenure in Morrisville ended in a contentious dispute with the borough council, who terminated him in November 2023 amid allegations he had mistreated other borough officials and influenced matters that were beyond his authority as police chief, according to a report from The Bucks County Courier-Times.

    Residents spoke out in favor of McClay at the time, criticizing the council for voting to fire him while he was on vacation and defending his record as a public servant.

    McClay appealed his termination, calling it illegal, and was eventually awarded a $200,000 settlement by the borough council.

  • How LeBron landed in Philly: Recapping King James’ free agency twists and turns that led to the Sixers

    How LeBron landed in Philly: Recapping King James’ free agency twists and turns that led to the Sixers

    LeBron James is joining the 76ers.

    A few weeks ago, most people would’ve laughed at those words. But 3½ weeks after James, 41, informed the Lakers that he’d be playing his 24th NBA season elsewhere, it’s a reality. James announced Friday that he’s taking his talents to South Broad, and he’ll sign a two-year deal with the Sixers as he tries to bring an NBA title to Philly.

    So how did this happen? How did the Sixers go from an afterthought to the home of one of the league’s all-time greats? Here’s a look at the twists and turns that led LeBron to Philly for the final chapter of his Hall of Fame career:

    June 30: LeBron tells the Lakers he’s not coming back

    James informed the Lakers he’s leaving Los Angeles and will play next season elsewhere.

    July 1: The Jaylen Brown trade and the tweet heard ’round the world

    A day later, Rich Paul, James’ agent and longtime friend, told Game Over podcast cohost Max Kellerman that between 12 and 14 teams have reached out about his client and says that James’ free agency won’t be about money.

    Meanwhile, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that James was willing to play for the veteran minimum, making him a viable option for the cash-strapped Sixers.

    LeBron chose the hard, dramatic path when he picked the Sixers. Get ready for a wild ride, Philly. | Mike Sielski

    But the biggest news of the day came in the evening, when it broke that the Sixers were acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Celtics for Paul George and draft picks. The move turned the Sixers from an afterthought to a legit option to land James.

    A couple hours later, Steve Gansey, the brother of Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, posted a photo that featured James and Mike as high schoolers.

    Before Mike Gansey became a Sixers executive, he was a hard-nosed high school player who earned LeBron James’ respect

    July 2: The Sixers become a real option

    Charania and fellow ESPN insider Brian Windhorst signaled that the Sixers were seriously in the mix for James for the first time and outlined the team’s potential pitch, led by Tyrese Maxey.

    July 3: The whiteboard podcast

    Paul outlined James’ possible landing spots on Game Over and included the Sixers among them, launching a million conspiracy theories and causing Sixers fans to ask, “Why was Maxey the only player with a star next to his name?” and “Why were the Sixers the first team added to the board?” The four other teams listed among the top contenders were the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Denver Nuggets.

    July 4: James parties in Cleveland

    James was spotted in Cleveland over Fourth of July weekend with some former high school teammates, including with Cavaliers assistant general manager (and longtime friend) Brandon Weems, whom Paul previously said was “basically LeBron’s brother.”

    July 7: The Sixers enter the top three

    ESPN reported that the Sixers are one of the top-three teams in the running to land James, along with the Cavaliers and Heat.

    July 8: Bob Myers pitches Sixers on Rich Paul’s podcast

    Bob Myers, the president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and the man who led the search to replace Daryl Morey (and hire Mike Gansey), was a guest on the Game Over podcast and pitches the Sixers directly to Paul.

    “If he was here, I’d say I honestly believe [Philly] is your best chance to win,” Myers said. “… What I would just say is, if it’s about winning, let’s talk about this team. Because you can win here in Philly.”

    LeBron James’ new teammates — and other Philly athletes — react to his signing with Sixers

    July 9: Philly stars make their pitches

    Windhorst reiterated how impactful Maxey could be in the Sixers’ recruitment of James but said on First Take that other teams “are skeptical” they can compete with Cleveland in the recruiting process.

    Meanwhile, two Philly sports stars — including one of the newest Sixers in Jaylen Brown — made public pitches to James. First was Saquon Barkley, who said he’d tell James that he’ll be “remembered forever” if he brings a championship to Philly.

    Later, Brown used an appearance with streamer iShowSpeed during the France-Morocco World Cup quarterfinal to have Speed, an Ohio native whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., to recruit James to the Sixers.

    July 10: Cleveland starts to fade; Rich Paul drops another podcast

    In another episode of Game Over, Paul was asked about Maxey being the main draw in Philly. His response? “First of all, none of these lists [of teams] are accurate, what you’re seeing out there. No one knows what the list looks like.”

    While that wasn’t the question — though it certainly was an interesting start to his answer — Paul then outlined some of why Maxey is at the top of the list of reasons his client would want to play for the Sixers. But he also talked about Joel Embiid, the Brown trade, and more.

    Later, while attempting to temper Cavaliers fans’ expectations during a radio hit in Cleveland, Windhorst said he “had somebody on the phone with me today that I consider a good source who was swearing it’s a done deal in another city [outside of Cleveland] a couple hours ago.”

    And nearly two weeks after James first let it be known that he was entering free agency one last time, Paul was in Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League and joined ESPN to discuss his client’s free agency. In addition to saying there’s no timeline for a decision — “I just tell him take your time, [and] whenever you’re ready, just let me know,” he said — Paul added that his client and longtime friend isn’t “chasing a ring” and is “not worried about nobody’s opinions.”

    July 14: The Sixers are officially interested

    While their name had been linked to James for weeks, Gansey confirmed the Sixers’ interest. He told The Inquirer that “we’d love to have [James] in Philly. I think he’d really, really help us and add to our group. But he’s making a big decision here. It’s wild [that], at his age, he’s playing at such a high level.

    “I have all the respect in the world for him, and he’s smart as heck. He’s going to figure it out and talk to his family, and we’ll be waiting. Whatever he decides, I know he’s going to make the right decision.”

    July 15: Sixers players enter the chat

    ESPN reported that the Sixers’ three biggest stars had been in touch with James, with Maxey leading the team’s pitch to the superstar.

    “As LeBron James’ free agency decision extends into its second week, the Philadelphia 76ers have kept up their pursuit of the four-time NBA champion through three of their players, league sources told ESPN,” Dave McMenamin wrote. “Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown have all been in communication with James. … Sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday the Sixers remain one of the top potential destinations for James, along with the Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.”

    July 16: Appearances at Fanatics fest

    James made two appearances at Fanatics Fest in New York and shared his first public comments since his free agency began. While James didn’t say much at either event — first on a live recording of Mind the Game podcast, and then on CNBC’s Boardroom — he did hint that a decision could be coming soon, saying that he “won’t hold you guys up too much longer.” He also hinted that his 24th NBA season may not be his last.

    July 17: LeBron wants to ‘trust the process’

    James continued appearing at Fanatics Fest, and during one of them — a live recording of The Shop talk show — the future Hall of Famer sent the crowd into a frenzy when he said he wants to play for a team that “trusts the process.”

    While “The Process” was both a rebuilding period for the Sixers and Joel Embiid’s nickname, James said he has been using the phrase for his entire career and that it was not a reference to the Sixers or their former motto.

    July 21: The pitches are in

    After James was spotted meeting Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sixers managing partner Josh Harris while in New York for Fanatics Fest, it didn’t appear his top three teams had changed. According to Charania, the pitches were all in, and “the choice is LeBron James’ right now.” The Sixers, Cavaliers, and Heat remained the possible landing spots.

    The next morning, Paul dropped another podcast and confirmed that the decision was in James’ hands and could come at any time — “It could be 48 seconds [from now]. It could be 48 minutes” — and there was nothing teams could do at that point to sway King James.

    July 22: The Heat drop the ball

    A member of the Miami Heat’s social media staff posted a link Tuesday night for a July 27 livestream titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference.” The post was later deleted and a Heat spokesperson told ESPN that the team was preparing for the possibility of James signing in Miami and accidentally posted the link to the team’s YouTube page. At this point, Miami was also the favorite to land James. Needless to say, the errant post sent the internet into a frenzy.

    July 24: LeBron makes his decision

    In a series of posts on X, James confirmed that he is headed to Philly. According to ESPN, he agreed to a two-year contract with the Sixers on Friday in one of the more improbable roster additions in Sixers history.

    “I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time,” James wrote on X while confirming the news.

  • QVC hosts vote to unionize

    QVC hosts vote to unionize

    Most QVC hosts have voted in favor of unionizing, according to SAG-AFTRA, as the West Chester-based shopping network prepares to emerge from bankruptcy.

    About 80% of the hosts voted in favor of joining SAG-AFTRA, according to a news release from the union, which represents 160,000 media professionals nationwide.

    The group includes 53 on-air hosts who sell clothes, home goods, and other products from QVC Group’s West Chester studios. The programs are broadcast on QVC, HSN, and various digital platforms, a segment of the business the company refers to Omni Channel.

    “The strong show of support for unionizing reflects QVC, HSN, and Omni Channel hosts’ professionalism and resolve to improve their workplace and build a better future for themselves and their colleagues,” SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement.

    QVC officially filed for bankruptcy. Here’s what to know.

    A QVC Group spokesperson reiterated that the hosts are “deeply valued team members.”

    “While we have long believed that a direct relationship with team members is the best approach, we respect the outcome of the election and our hosts’ right to make this choice,” spokesperson Matthew Goldstein said Friday in a statement, adding that management “will work with SAG-AFTRA on the next steps.”

    The vote comes a month after a supermajority of QVC’s TV and digital hosts presented a petition to company management, asking for voluntary recognition of the union.

    In the petition, the hosts expressed concerns about QVC using artificial intelligence to imitate their image, voice, and likeness without consent or compensation, as well as about pay equity and transparency.

    “As QVC Inc. adapts, we hope to foster a culture in which workers feel valued, trusted, and appreciated, where ideas are recognized and concerns respected,” the hosts wrote in the petition. “This is especially true given the current landscape of artificial intelligence, discussions surrounding the regulation of image and likeness, and concerns of job security.”

    Meet the QVC fans who have kept the shopping network alive

    Despite developing a loyal following of fans over 40 years, QVC has struggled recently to expand its customer base and compete with online retailers. After years of declining revenue, QVC Group filed for Chapter 11 protection in April.

    A federal judge last week approved the company’s reorganization plan, which would slash its debt from about $6.6 billion to $1.3 billion. QVC executives have said they hope to emerge from bankruptcy sometime this summer.

  • More than 575,000 people attended Philly’s World Cup fan festival

    More than 575,000 people attended Philly’s World Cup fan festival

    Philadelphia transformed Lemon Hill into the longest and one of the largest World Cup watch parties in the country throughout the FIFA Fan Festival’s 39-day stay.

    With the World Cup wrapped up, host committees throughout the country are taking stock of how many fans flocked to these festivals. Philly’s fan fest saw the second-highest number of attendees, with 575,304 between June 11 and July 19, according to the festival’s organizer, Philadelphia Soccer 2026.

    Miami’s host committee was less precise in its count, but said its festival drew more than 600,000 guests.

    Each one of the 11 host cities reported fan totals in the hundreds of thousands, but none quite reached the attendance levels of Philly and Miami.

    However, despite South Florida’s high total numbers, Philadelphia set the record for most attendees throughout a single day at a U.S. fan festival with 55,000 attendees during the Brazil vs. Haiti group stage match on June 19. While Philadelphia’s fan festival operated for almost twice as long as Miami’s, opening every day of the tournament, Philadelphia worked with half the capacity limit that Miami did, capping crowds at 15,000 people at a time.

    Anu Akinlotan, 19, of Darby, Pa., (right), Sandra Olaniyi, 25, of Drexel Hill, Pa., (left), and her sister Victoria, 22, (center), watch the USA vs. Australia game at FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill Park in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    New York and New Jersey, home to the largest population among host cities and host of the World Cup final, netted more than one million fans across their decentralized network of official fan zones. The San Francisco Bay Area host committee also chose not to do a single festival but rather a network of watch parties and events. Across those areas, 900,000 people reportedly visited during World Cup games, according to CBS.

    Philly’s million-square-foot watch party, akin to a Fairmount summer barbecue of epic proportions, featured large swaths of open space for fans to lay down blankets and picnic while they watched the game, with the Center City skyline as backdrop; mini soccer pitches to challenge friends to pickup games; and a line of sponsor exhibits, including one outrageously viral Bank of America bracelet-making workshop. Some later resold the bracelets online for upward of $150.

    But the main course was the 60-foot-wide screen playing almost every 2026 World Cup game to a crowd of thousands. This is where Philadelphians and international tourists could experience the energy of the World Cup outside the pricey stadium seats.

    Soccer fans gather to watch Mexico play South Africa on a giant screen during the opening day of the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Philadelphia.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Philly and Miami may win out for the highest attendances, likely due to their singular locations and being open much longer than celebrations in other cities, which opted for shorter-lived festival days or decentralized events. Still, most of the U.S. host cities boasted impressive numbers at fan events.

    Atlanta, Houston, and Seattle all reported having hosted at least 500,000 fans at their festivals. Kansas City was close behind, reaching 400,000 fans across its 18-day run. Los Angeles brought in 250,000 people to its festival. Boston hosted 155,000. Dallas’s host committee has not released official counts yet.

  • LeBron James Sixers jerseys are already selling out on Fanatics — but more merch is on the way

    LeBron James Sixers jerseys are already selling out on Fanatics — but more merch is on the way

    Fanatics is already sold out of some LeBron James Sixers jerseys.

    About two hours after news broke that the superstar was coming to Philly, all first editions of the no. 23 jersey were sold out on the Fanatics website.

    The adult royal blue, white, and red Nike Swingman jerseys had been selling for $124.99, in line with the price of similar jerseys for other Sixers stars.

    Red and blue youth and adult Nike Jordan Brand Fast Break jerseys, which are made of different material, were still available to preorder for $69.99 and $79.99 as of Friday afternoon, though some colors and sizes were in low supply. Those jerseys were set to ship next month.

    LeBron James’ new teammates — and other Philly athletes — react to his signing with Sixers

    Once James’ decision was announced, his new jersey was available “instantly,” according to Brandon Williams, Fanatics vice president for global communications.

    An image of the jersey was displayed on the top of the Fanatics homepage with the words: “LeBron James. The king just found his kingdom.”

    Along with the official jerseys, Fanatics is also selling James’ 2026-2027 Topps trading card, the same one that he signed and posted on Instagram after announcing his decision to come to Philly.

    The cards are selling for between $11.99 for a single card and $169.99 for a 20-pack. Fanatics acquired Topps in 2022.

    The company will be adding other James merchandise shortly, Williams said.

    LeBron James to Philly: Sixers players react; Shapiro issues proclamation; free Honeygrow for life?

    Fanatics, the sports merchandise giant that makes and distributes officially licensed apparel for all major pro leagues and the NCAA, is owned by billionaire Michael Rubin, a Lafayette Hill native who previously had a minority ownership stake in the Sixers.

    On Friday afternoon, Mitchell & Ness customers could preorder several James graphic tees and sweatshirts, set to ship in four to six weeks. The new swag was advertised on the retailer’s homepage, which read “Philly welcomes the king.”

    Rally House, the national sports apparel chain with more than two dozen Philly-area locations, also advertised James Sixers jerseys and T-shirts, set to ship next month.

    But Sixers fans who stop by their local Rally House this weekend won’t find James gear just yet.

    “With the demand of jerseys, LeBron James jerseys will have a slightly longer timeline to land in-store,” Novick said in a statement. “Rally House is doing everything in their power to beat these estimated arrivals and get LeBron James 76ers gear into Philly stores for fans ASAP.”

  • SEPTA wants to extend its free fare benefit to apartment dwellers

    SEPTA wants to extend its free fare benefit to apartment dwellers

    SEPTA is embarking on an experiment to extend its all-access transit pass, SEPTA Key Advantage, to apartment building residents.

    Currently employers and schools can buy into the benefit program. The institutions pay for the passes, and then workers and students sign up to receive a SEPTA Key card that is free for them to use.

    Since its creation in 2022, beneficiaries have used SEPTA Key Advantage for 25 million rides.

    Now SEPTA has received a $150,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) for a pilot program extending the benefit to apartment building owners.

    The two-year program will be open to a handful of apartment buildings so SEPTA can study how tenants use it. The first company to sign on is the HOW Group, a large multifamily developer and owner in Philadelphia.

    “A lot of our properties are located near SEPTA stations, and with a lot of our buildings, their biggest amenity is their location,” said Kelli Tomczak, vice president of property management at the HOW Group. “It was a great opportunity to emphasize how big of an amenity that is coupled with the SEPTA pass.”

    The SEPTA Key Advantage will be offered first to tenants in the HOW Group’s 104-unit apartment building at 1900 N. Front St. known as the Isaac. It has no parking but is directly across the street from SEPTA’s Berks Station on the Market-Frankford Line.

    “A lot of people who are living there are already utilizing the El. That’s what makes this a great amenity,” Tomczak said.

    SEPTA says it is in talks about bringing the benefit to another HOW building in University City, which has frequent bus lines to Center City, trolleys, and the Market-Frankford line.

    The transit agency also wants to try the pilot in a couple suburban buildings and are searching for partners with 50- to 100-unit buildings near stations in Philadelphia’s collar counties.

    “We are really trying to hone in and really understand, when you have this free pass, do you start to take transit more?” said Gabrielle Pristera, senior sales development specialist with SEPTA.

    “We want to really build the case to show other multifamily properties that there is value in adding Key Advantage as an amenity through this pilot,” Pristera said.

    The HOW Group’s 100+ unit apartment building at 1900 Front St., on the Market-Frankford line, where tenants will be eligible for free SEPTA cards.HOW Group

    SEPTA Key Advantage originated when transit ridership was struggling back from COVID.

    The program was created to get more people riding SEPTA regularly, while raising revenue for the service. SEPTA estimates that it saves regular riders $110 a month.

    Today SEPTA Key Advantage has 60,000 members, 63 participating employers (including the City of Philadelphia), and four participating colleges and universities.

    Roughly half the eligible students and workers have taken advantage of the benefit and SEPTA has found that at small companies 80% of employees sign up.

    The transit authority has long wanted to expand the program to apartment owners and tenants.

    “Especially within Center City, with development being so costly, this is just one of the easiest amenities to get started,” Pristera said. “You don’t have to have space for it. You just can just distribute key cards and go.”

    Philadelphia has seen an apartment building boom in recent years. Neighborhoods like Northern Liberties, Fishtown, and University City have seen thousands of new units added near subway, elevated, and trolley lines.

    DVRPC’s grant money will pay for the administrative costs of the pilot, as property managers don’t have the same kind of human resources departments as employers and higher education institutions.

    The grant from DVRPC will last until 2028. SEPTA will evaluate the results of the program and decide how to proceed from there.

  • LeBron chose the hard, dramatic path when he picked the Sixers. Get ready for a wild ride, Philly.

    LeBron chose the hard, dramatic path when he picked the Sixers. Get ready for a wild ride, Philly.

    If LeBron James is to be believed, if he was telling the truth when he took to Twitter/X late Friday morning to explain why he had decided to shock the basketball world and sign with the 76ers, if he was speaking from the heart and not merely trying to sell a new city and fan base on his choice, then this could be a red-letter moment in the history of Philadelphia sports.

    LeBron to the Sixers is unlike anything that has happened around here. Those with long memories like to think that back on Pete Rose’s signing with the Phillies in 1978 or the Sixers’ trading for Moses Malone in 1982 are comparable, and it’s understandable why. Those superstars provided exactly what those teams needed to win a championship, and each of those teams promptly won one — the Phillies in Rose’s second season, the Sixers in Malone’s first.

    But James exists in a different stratosphere economically and culturally from the one Rose and Malone did then. His fame is global. His wealth makes him a multibillionaire. He is among the five best basketball players ever to walk the Earth and among the most famous people walking it now. And he is a perfect fit for this Sixers team, for a franchise that hasn’t won a championship since 1983 and is making an all-in move to end that drought.

    The most heartening aspect of James’ decision isn’t even that, at 41 years old, he should be the ideal power forward/point guard to play alongside Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe. He is a player unlike any other; he can bring the ball up, get it out of Maxey’s hands, run a halfcourt offense, and play at any pace.

    No, the encouraging thing about his announcement Friday was his reason for making it. He admitted that he had contemplated retiring, that he had spent time with his family and friends, “with all the people I love,” he wrote, “trying to figure it all out.” He wanted to keep playing, but he had to acknowledge to himself why.

    “I’m not going for money,” he wrote, which partially explains why his contract with the Sixers reportedly is just two years long and worth just $8 million. “I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win, and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship. I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team, and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”

    Live reactions to LeBron coming to Philly

    That desire — to win an NBA championship — really was the only factor that stood a chance of drawing James here, and there was a case to be made that the Sixers didn’t even offer the best opportunity for him to win his fifth ring. The Miami Heat have Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo and Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra and that vaunted Heat culture, and the Cleveland Cavaliers were just in the Eastern Conference finals last season, and he was familiar with both franchises and revered in both markets. He could have gone to either of those teams for sentimental reasons alone, never mind the rosters and the possibilities on the court, and no one would have been surprised.

    Instead, he chose a harder, more dramatic road. Assume he had decided to spend his final season or seasons with the Heat or the Cavaliers. Either of those teams could lose in the second round of the playoffs with him, and James’ legacy and reputation would remain untarnished. They love him in those places and always will. He helped build a dynasty in Miami. The championship he won in 2016 with the Cavs was Cleveland’s first in 52 years. Philadelphia is something else entirely, and not merely because the Sixers have gone so long without a parade.

    A franchise that hasn’t won a championship in more than 43 years, that was expected to win a championship for more than a decade in the aftermath of The Process and never got all that close, will be expected to win one because of James’ presence. People here had grown jaded about the Sixers, about all these iterations of the team, about a franchise that hasn’t had an identity since Allen Iverson was sacrificing his body every night for the sake of scoring 40. James’ decision has blended that cynicism with hope and created a powerful concoction. Ticket sales surely are skyrocketing already. The Sixers will be at the center of every hoops-related talk show, podcast, international news story, and dinner table conversation into the foreseeable future. Their roster will be a fascinating study in leadership and group dynamics, and it will test coach Nick Nurse and his staff like nothing they’ve encountered in their careers. The pressure on this team will be withering.

    LeBron James signed up for all of that. He did it because he wants to win and thinks he can with the Sixers. The stakes for this franchise, for pro basketball in this city, have never been higher. Get ready for a journey no one here has taken before. Get ready, win or lose with LeBron James, for the wildest ride you can imagine.

  • As measles cases in Pennsylvania rise, officials scramble to track cases

    As measles cases in Pennsylvania rise, officials scramble to track cases

    Pennsylvania tallied more than two dozen new cases of measles in the last week, including several in the Philadelphia region.

    In Chester County, health officials confirmed 13 cases in the suburban Philadelphia county since April, with seven identified since Monday.

    The rising counts come as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday that measles cases nationwide had surpassed all cases reported in 2025, the highest case count in 35 years.

    One of the most contagious diseases, measles has made a resurgence as rising numbers of people are refusing the highly effective vaccine that prevents its spread.

    In a growing Pennsylvania outbreak centered in Lancaster County, state health officials confirmed 14 new cases in the last week. The county has been at the center of two separate outbreaks this year and has reported 75 cases since April, when the current outbreak began.

    So far this year, Pennsylvania has reported 139 cases of measles, more than eight times the number reported in 2025 and the highest case count in three decades. Twenty-five people have been hospitalized.

    Delaware on Wednesday declared a measles outbreak, with four cases reported. New Jersey has seen one case so far in 2026.

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    Working to track cases

    In Chester County, the local health department has struggled to track cases in part because some exposed residents have refused to provide contact tracers with detailed information, said Jeanne Franklin, the county health director.

    Some residents have not answered calls from the department, or have spoken to health workers only about their own family, not other contacts they might have had in the community. Others have simply hung up the phone, Franklin said.

    “It does not allow us to paint the true picture. If they’re not talking to us, we’re assuming there’s a lot of cases unreported,” she said.

    Public health workers ask residents who are reluctant to reveal information about their contacts to, at least, inform friends and relatives that they may have been exposed to measles, Franklin said.

    She said Chester County residents who have tested positive for measles have mostly sought care in Lancaster County, which borders Chester County to the west.

    But most measles patients are seeking treatment only when they become seriously ill, she said, and milder cases are likely going unreported.

    “People aren’t going to freely get tested. They’re getting tested when their health has declined so much that they need medical assistance,” Franklin said.

    Unvaccinated people in Plain communities, Christian denominations like the Amish and Mennonites, have been affected more than others in the county, but the outbreak is not contained to these communities, Franklin said.

    Some members of Plain communities oppose vaccination, but opinions vary, and doctors in Lancaster, where Plain communities are heavily concentrated, have stressed that cases there are centered among unvaccinated people in general, not Plain residents.

    No major religion expressly forbids vaccines. Yet the spread of misinformation about vaccine safety, rising for years, is increasingly amplified in federal policy discussions under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist.

    Every measles case in the state this year was diagnosed in people who were not fully vaccinated against the highly contagious disease, which can infect up to 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to it.

    The Pennsylvania Department of Health has administered nearly 2,000 measles vaccines in the last year.

    Franklin said Chester County health workers are among those also stepping up vaccination efforts. Besides offering vaccinations at the county’s health clinics and working with community groups to host pop-up vaccine clinics, staffers are traveling to residents’ homes to vaccinate them, she said.

    The department is seeing renewed interest in measles vaccination as the outbreak continues, Franklin added.

    “If you decided or your parents decided a while ago not to get vaccinated for measles, that might have been OK then because the risk was low. In today’s situation, you should reassess your decision,” she said.

  • A Philly judge accused of domestic violence is no longer suspended after all charges were dropped

    A Philly judge accused of domestic violence is no longer suspended after all charges were dropped

    A Philadelphia Family Court judge who was arrested for assaulting his wife and daughter earlier this year is no longer suspended after prosecutors withdrew all charges against him last week.

    The Pennsylvania Court of Discipline ended Michael Fanning’s suspension without pay Thursday because the only reason for it was the criminal charges against him.

    “With no charges and no other reason cited for the suspension of Judge Fanning, no reason exists for that suspension to continue,” the order said.

    Fanning, 60, will be assigned administrative duty and will not hear cases until the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas leadership can decide his future assignment, said court spokesperson Martin O’Rourke.

    His request to end the stay did not mention backpay.

    The administrative office of Pennsylvania courts did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Fanning would receive back pay for the four months he was suspended.

    Fortunato Perri Jr., Fanning’s attorney, declined to comment.

    Fanning was charged with aggravated assault, strangulation, and related crimes in March after prosecutors said he repeatedly punched his wife in the face, choked her, and dragged his 30-year-old daughter to the ground by her hair, causing her to cut her face, during a fight at their East Torresdale home.

    Assistant District Attorney Brian Collins said last week that the two women were evaluated by medics and did not suffer injuries.

    The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office withdrew the charges against the judge last week after Fanning’s wife and daughter did not want to proceed.

    Attorneys for Fanning also provided the district attorney’s office with “extensive mitigation” records, prosecutors told the court without describing their content.

    Fanning’s wife said in a March hearing that the judge had voluntarily entered a 30-day inpatient recovery program to treat his excessive alcohol use, an issue the family had worked to address in the past.

    Fanning was appointed to the Common Pleas Court bench in 2014 by then-Gov. Tom Corbett. He won a 10-year term in the 2015 election, and was retained for another term in November. He has been serving as a Family Court judge throughout his tenure.

    Staff writer Ellie Rushing contributed to this story.

  • American commissioner speaks on need for structure in college athletics; Temple looks poised for success

    American commissioner speaks on need for structure in college athletics; Temple looks poised for success

    The college football season is coming soon.

    On Friday, Temple head coach K.C. Keeler took the podium to address members of the media during the American Conference’s media day. Keeler was joined in St. Petersburg, Fla., by the other 13 American head coaches and Tim Pernetti, the conference’s commissioner.

    Here are some notable takeaways:

    ‘Sustainable framework’

    During his opening remarks, Pernetti focused heavily on the evolving nature of college sports and how the current landscape is failing athletes.

    “We have a responsibility to surround [student-athletes] with a sustainable framework, and right now, that’s not a thing,” Pernetti said. “We need to give them a clear path to earn degrees, become leaders, and win championships. Compensation and all these things we hear about — they need to live inside a broader mission.”

    Pernetti expanded on this by endorsing the Protect College Sports Act, a federal bill that would provide an antitrust exemption to the NCAA.

    If voted into law, this exemption would allow the NCAA to establish limits on athletes’ compensation, regulate transfers and eligibility, and prohibit coaches from departing from a program midseason, among other changes. More than 20 college conferences have publicly offered support for the bill, but the two wealthiest conferences — the Big Ten and SEC — have opposed it.

    What to know about the proposed Protect College Sports Act and its impact on NCAA athletics

    “‘I’ve walked the halls in D.C. more than Frank Underwood did in House of Cards,” Pernetti said. “The American has a seat at the table. That’s the great news. We have a nationally respected voice, and I’m really humbled to be part of President Trump’s commission to save college sports. And at times, I’ve been the only non-autonomy commissioner in that room.

    “For too long, this industry has lived in this cycle of litigation and temporary fixes and uncertainty, like enough. It’s time for structure in college sports. The Protect College Sports Act is now front and center.”

    On Thursday, ESPN reported that the Senate is not expected to vote on the bill prior to Congress’ August recess, making it unlikely that a vote occurs prior to the midterm elections in November.

    Owls retain crucial starters

    A few hours later, it was Keeler’s turn to field questions from the media. His brief availability was more dedicated to the gridiron than the halls of Congress.

    Keeler is entering his second year at the helm. Last season, the Owls (5-7, 3-5 AAC) finished one game short of bowl eligibility. As Keeler pointed out though, the program is returning key players to nearly every position.

    “We kept every single one of our starters that was able to go in the portal, which is unheard of at our level,” Keeler said. “We had a number of guys that had major opportunities in the Power Four world, and when guys like [tight end] Peter Clarke and [offensive linemen] Giakoby Hills and Eric King turn down literally hundreds of thousands of dollars to stay at an institution because they love Temple, they love Philly, and they see where we’re going, it speaks volumes to the rest of the locker room.”

    One notable position that is not seeing a returning starter may be the most important: quarterback.

    Temple’s annual Cherry and White game delivered food for thought as the offseason begins

    Last season, the Owls were led by Evan Simon, who graduated this past spring. Keeler is now presiding over a quarterback battle between Penn State transfer Jaxon Smolik and Ajani Sheppard, who saw stops at Rutgers and Washington State before landing with the Owls this offseason. In the Cherry and White spring game, Smolik looked like the sharper passer.

    Another new name to watch is fifth-year senior running back Sam Brown V, who transferred from Rutgers. The La Salle College High alumni was sidelined with injuries during his time with the Scarlet Knights. He was formerly 247Sports’ No. 13 high school recruit in Pennsylvania in the class of 2022.

    Despite being approached by other schools, Temple tight end Peter Clarke decided to stay with the Owls.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    “You keep Sam healthy, Sam’s a Big Ten starting running back,” Keeler said. “I think we have enough depth that we can keep him healthy.”

    Temple opens its season against Rhode Island on Sept. 5 at Lincoln Financial Field. Then on Sept. 12, the Owls are slated to host Keystone state rival Penn State. Keeler is looking to make sure his team does not look past its initial opponent.

    “And if you worry about what’s beyond you, there’s a good chance that very talented Rhode Island team, that’s ranked No. 4 in the country preseason at FCS, they’re going to beat you,” Keeler said. “I’m going to make sure my players understand nothing else really matters but us playing Rhode Island.”