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  • Dear Abby | Wife suspects man is still up to his usual tricks

    DEAR ABBY: How can I tell if my husband loves me? We have been married 41 years, and during our entire marriage he’s been cheating on me with other women. He takes good care of me and is always there for me and our family. We hardly have sex. I try to give him a romantic kiss, but he only gives me a peck. I have suggested that we go on date nights and go out to breakfast or dinner once or twice a month. I also told him that we should be jumping all over each other because our kids are grown and on their own with their own families. My gut instinct tells me he is still cheating. What should I do?

    — DISILLUSIONED IN ARIZONA

    DEAR DISILLUSIONED: Your husband may love you, but not in the way you would like him to. Or he could be following his usual pattern but staying married to you because he doesn’t want the expense of a divorce. If your gut instinct tells you he is still cheating, he probably is, and you should be tested for STDs. (Sorry.) If you want proof that he has been straying, hire a private detective. If you are right, you will then have to decide whether you want to stay married under these circumstances.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I recently turned 80, and my health is excellent. I have worked hard to become financially independent, I have long-term care insurance and an elevator in my home so I can stay, and I exercise regularly.

    My friends have collectively and individually started a not-so-subtle campaign to move in with me or for all of us to buy a house together. I call this the “Golden Girls Campaign Movement.” I love my friends, but I also love my independence. I have repeated this tactfully numerous times, and on one occasion replied bluntly, “Never happening.” But it’s falling on deaf ears. I want friends, not roommates. Help!

    — ANNOYED IN CALIFORNIA

    DEAR ANNOYED: From now on, when your friends raise the subject, smile and say, “I want friends, not roommates. I prefer to live independently.” Repeat it as often as necessary. It’s the truth.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: My brother-in-law was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He’s a retired doctor and knows what to expect in the coming years. We’re a close family and are always honest with each other. My wife and I do not know the best ways to support my sister. She is also a health professional who knows what is in store. Any help you may suggest will be shared among our family members, as we want to present a united approach.

    — FAMILY IN OREGON

    DEAR FAMILY: I’m sorry for your brother-in-law’s diagnosis. Because he and his wife are well-equipped to tell you what they will need from you, ask them. Refrain from “going the extra mile” with assistance they have not requested. (You do not want to smother them.)

    Closeness and honesty will be your greatest assets as you navigate this chapter of your BIL’s life. For additional support, the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) has resources, both for the affected person and for caregivers.

  • A ‘super impressive’ first Philly All-Star Game in 30 years was a hit with fans

    A ‘super impressive’ first Philly All-Star Game in 30 years was a hit with fans

    The big winners of All-Star Weekend? Philly fans.

    The All-Star Game itself? Pretty boring, even by its own standards. The American League strung together three runs off Cristopher Sánchez in the first inning, and the only other run of the game was Miguel Vargas’ home run in the eighth.

    The National League got just three hits, none from a Phillies player. But for the fans in the building, the pageantry of the day made it well worth the trip.

    This 17-year-old from Lower Merion was booed during the Home Run Derby. He called it ‘an honor’

    “It was super impressive,” said Stefanie Lollis, a Phillies fan who flew up from Lake Mary, Fla., with her husband for the game. “A lot of the stuff that was around it on the field: the fireworks, the different things, the kids riding out on their bikes.

    “It’s very touching, some of the little moments they had out there in between innings and stuff,” said her husband Chris Lollis. “I figured Philly would do a great job with this. I’m very impressed.”

    Demand was so high for the All-Star Game and the Home Run Derby that prices on secondary markets outpaced the World Cup semifinal between France and Spain on Tuesday. But fans found plenty of ways to get in the All-Star spirit outside of just the two marquee events, at the All-Star Village and the red carpet.

    The All-Star red carpet at Independence Hall was open to the public without tickets. One father and son waiting on the bleachers hoping for a glimpse of Mike Trout flew in from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., for the weekend.

    The trip was a Christmas gift for Oscar Borello, who attended the All-Star Game with his father in 1989 in Anaheim. While Tuesday’s game didn’t provide a moment quite as iconic as the leadoff 448-foot Bo Jackson home run in that game, he cherished the opportunity to share the experience with his own son.

    “Philadelphia is the best city that we’ve traveled to as tourists,” Borello said. “It’s phenomenal to share this with my son.”

    All-Stars weigh in on Philly fans’ boos during Home Run Derby, receive a (mostly) warm reception on the red carpet

    He was curious to hear the reception to Millville native Trout, returning to the All-Star festivities for the first time since 2023, and starting in the game for the first time since 2019. “I hope it’ll be good. I think Mike Trout being healthy is good for the game of baseball in general” Borello said.

    Trout earned a huge ovation, and so did Delco native Kevin McGonigle, playing in his first career All-Star Game. Justin Verlander, retiring at the end of the year, also got big cheers.

    Aside from the Phillies themselves, though, they were basically the only ones. After earning some scrutiny for heavy boos during the Home Run Derby, Philly fans came right back on Tuesday, booing every player on an NL East team, teams they’ve recently lost to in the playoffs (Houston, Arizona, the Dodgers), the Yankees, Home Run Derby champion Jordan Walker, and also the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski. Not even the mascots were safe — Mr. and Mrs. Met might’ve been booed louder than any player.

    A fireworks show goes off before the start of the fifth inning.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    But, despite Kyle Schwarber’s loss, that electric Home Run Derby crowd was the highlight of the weekend, even for those who came in neutral.

    “The Home Run Derby was just awesome,” Adam Dashner, who drove in from Pittsburgh with his dad for the weekend. “I think Philadelphia is a good city for that. They played up the heckling for everybody who’s not a Phillie. It was a real hometown crowd. I loved it.”

  • Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie honored at ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian Awards: ‘Hopefully we’ll have a global impact’

    Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie honored at ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian Awards: ‘Hopefully we’ll have a global impact’

    NEW YORK — When Jeffrey Lurie purchased the Eagles in 1994, he had two goals.

    Goal one, as any owner will say, was to win. Goal two was to make the franchise synonymous with a “global health cause.”

    Lurie’s accomplished the former, winning two Super Bowls in the past decade. On Tuesday, he was celebrated for the latter.

    At ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian Awards at Gotham Hall in Manhattan, the Eagles owner was presented the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award for his work with the Eagles Autism Foundation and the Lurie Autism Institute. The two initiatives have collectively donated more than $100 million toward Autism research and clinical care programs. The award is given annually to someone who uses their position in sports to help disadvantaged groups.

    The Eagles Autism Foundation raised more than $10 million last year. It’s needed ‘now more than ever,’ Jeffrey Lurie says.

    “You know, [winning] was sort of unexpected,” Lurie told The Inquirer. “[We] devote so much time to what we’re trying to do off the field with autism research and spend so much time trying to assure the Eagles are great … It’s a wonderful award. You know, I’ve sort of followed it over the years, and it’s nice to be recognized for humanitarian things.”

    The Eagles Autism Foundation was founded in 2019 following the first Eagles Autism Challenge — an annual 5K bike ride to raise research funds for the neurological condition. The latest Eagles Autism Challenge had 6,500 participants and raised $16 million.

    The Lurie Autism Institute is a center for autism research at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine. It opened last June after Lurie and his family donated $50 million to the two institutes. It is the largest center for autism-specific research.

    Jeffrey Lurie (center) shown with Kylie (left) and Jason Kelce after winning the named Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award. Jason and Kylie presented Lurie with his award.Courtesy of ESPN

    “Autism was natural for me, my family, and millions of others around the world,” said Lurie, whose brother Peter is on the spectrum. “We’re getting there. We want the Eagles to be synonymous with trying to do everything possible that’s innovative with autism research and serving that community. And we’re certainly getting there. And it’s nice to be recognized on a national basis, and hopefully we’ll have a global impact.”

    Lurie was supported by his Eagles family at the event. Jason Kelce — who raised $1.26 million for the Eagles Autism Foundation at his “Team 62” event in Sea Isle City earlier this month — presented Lurie’s award along with his wife and Not Gonna Lie podcast host Kylie Kelce.

    Other notable figures present at Tuesday’s award show included Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry; former NBA player Jarron Collins; New York Giants co-owner Laurie Tisch; Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin; and former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott.

    Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and family donate $50 million to CHOP and Penn for autism institute

    Moments from the Sports Humanitarian Awards are scheduled to appear during the ESPYs, ESPN’s annual sports awards, on Wednesday (ABC, 8 p.m.).

    ‘Boo-Yah’

    The namesake for the ENSPIRE award belongs to longtime SportsCenter anchor Stuart Scott, who died from appendiceal cancer in 2015. After being diagnosed in 2007, Scott stayed at ESPN while undergoing chemotherapy. Months before his death, Scott delivered a now-famous speech at the ESPYs in which he told the audience to “fight like hell.”

    Sydni Scott, one of Stuart’s two daughters, was 14 at the time of her father’s famed speech. She attended Tuesday’s award show.

    Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and Jason Kelce embrace after Lurie was honored for his humanitarian efforts with the Eagles Austim Foundation and Lurie Autism Institute.Ben Solomon

    “This is one of my favorite nights of the entire summer,” said Sydni Scott. “I really think of my dad’s ENSPIRE Award as an award for people that are breaking barriers to bring more people into sports. You think back to the 90s, early 2000s, that was my dad. He was bringing Black culture, hip-hop, rap — all of those types of things into a very straight-laced kind of sports journalism and sports broadcasting environment.”

    “In the past years you see that there are people who are working to make sure that deaf people are able to enjoy sports and Indigenous people are able to enjoy sports,” she added. “Every year, there is a community that I didn’t even realize.”

    While posing on the red carpet on Tuesday, Lurie mouthed “Boo-Yah” — Scott’s famous SportsCenter catchphrase.

    “It means a lot to have the award that Stuart Scott epitomized,” Lurie said. “I admired him. You know, he was inspirational. He was authentic, always genuine, and his battle with cancer was something we all were struck by, how he handled it. And having had family members with cancer, it was inspirational. To have the ENSPIRE Award inspired by Stuart is a something I’m proud of.”

  • All-Stars weigh in on Philly fans’ boos during Home Run Derby, receive a (mostly) warm reception on the red carpet

    All-Stars weigh in on Philly fans’ boos during Home Run Derby, receive a (mostly) warm reception on the red carpet

    Philly has a reputation for having some of the toughest fans in professional sports — and Monday night was a clear reminder why they’ve earned that reputation. During the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, fans booed anyone without Philly affiliation.

    “I thought it was a pretty impressive atmosphere last night,” said Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan. “Just seeing the Home Run Derby, [Philly fans are] always going to have a good time and they want to win. So, yeah. Respect it.”

    With the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper competing in the Home Run Derby, the Philly crowd provided a home-field advantage early on.

    As Boston Red Sox slugger Willson Contreras made his entrance, the crowd rained down boos at Citizens Bank Park. Contreras quickly embraced the villain role, putting his hand to his ear as fans let him have it.

    “They’re great,” said Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski. “They’re really passionate. It’s cool to see fans that really, really care about it and want their guys to win. So yeah, they can get a little overboard from what normal people are, but think it’s really cool and it seems like a fun place to play. And I’ve talked to a couple of the guys about it and they say they love playing here. So, super cool.”

    And nobody was safe — not even the kids in the outfield tasked with tracking balls short of being home runs. After a failed attempt, some took heat from the Philly crowd, while others were cheered for their successful catches.

    “To be honest, I didn’t see [the Home Run Derby,]” said Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. “But they’re passionate, man. I got to give them credit.”

    Overall, the visiting teams have enjoyed the energy behind some of the most passionate fans in sports.

    “[Philly] is great,” said Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana. “The fans are very intense and they love it. It’s been beautiful weather and an awesome environment.”

    Although fans let opposing teams have it on Monday, they were a lot nicer on Tuesday on the red carpet at Independence Hall. While no players were booed, the same can’t be said for a certain mascot from Atlanta.

    Walking across the red carpet, Blooper, the Braves’ mascot, was welcomed with boos from the Philly crowd.

    This doesn’t come as a surprise due to Blooper’s history with Philly fans, dating back to when the Braves and Phillies met in the National League Division Series in 2023.

    After trying to pick a fight with the Phanatic on social media, Philly fans came to their mascot’s defense. Now, three years later, it seems like they’ve still held on to the grudge.

  • Baseball union head says MLB’s ads promoting a salary cap are ‘perverse’

    Baseball union head says MLB’s ads promoting a salary cap are ‘perverse’

    As baseball fans tune in to the All-Star Game, they may notice the advertising campaign that suggests the public supports Major League Baseball’s recent proposal for a salary cap.

    Nonsense, according to the MLB Players Association.

    “The supposed stewards of the game have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to convince fans that they shouldn’t have hope, or that they don’t have hope, or that the product they’re paying to consume in record numbers is somehow broken,” MLBPA interim executive director Bryce Meyer said Tuesday in a meeting with the Baseball Writers Association of America. “I think it’s perverse.”

    Rob Manfred: Bryce Harper did not violate MLB rules with his Cameo video used by FanDuel

    MLB is running the ads with the slogan “Level the Playing Field” on MLB.TV. The collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on Dec. 1, and the owners maintain that a cap-based system is necessary to achieve greater competitive balance.

    In addition, commissioner Rob Manfred has claimed that feedback from fans, obtained through public polling, is central to the league’s desire to implement a salary cap.

    The players have historically opposed a cap. And with the sides at odds over the very structure of the sport’s economic system, a work stoppage seems likely, even at a time when MLB is experiencing increased attendance, strong television ratings, and an uptick in overall interest.

    Manfred, who met with the BBWAA after Meyer, cited a $441 million disparity between the teams with the highest and lowest luxury-tax payrolls. Meyer countered by noting that the low-budget Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays are leading their respective divisions at the All-Star break.

    “It gives Bruce talking points,” Manfred said. “But from our perspective, the more important issue is, what’s the aggregate data over time? Our view of the world is that over a very long period of time, there’s a very strong relationship between [payroll] and who gets into playoffs and who proceeds.”

    Manfred was asked why the league would launch an advertising campaign if the fans didn’t need to be swayed.

    Will it really an All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park if the best of the best aren’t there?

    “I think when you have a difficult public issue, particularly when the other side of the issue is being very public about what their views are on the negotiation, I think it’s incumbent on us to keep our fans informed of our view of the world,” Manfred said. “Particularly given sometimes the other side may not be completely accurate or fair in terms of their recitation of what’s going on.”

    Negotiations on a new agreement began in May and will continue until the existing CBA lapses, at which time the widespread expectation is that the owners will lock out the players and effectively shut down the sport. In 2021-22, MLB experienced a 99-day lockout before an agreement was reached in mid-March, before regular-season games needed to be canceled.

    With the talks still in their early stages, Manfred and Meyer each presented a united front. Manfred said the owners are “more united than any group in my entire time in baseball.” Meyer countered by saying MLB will try to break the union by appealing to rank-and-file players closer to the bottom of the pay scale.

    It was against that ominous backdrop Tuesday night that MLB held the All-Star Game in Citizens Bank Park, with its “Level the Playing Field” ad campaign in full force.

    “There’s something wrong with that,” Meyer said. “Look, we’re in a bargain year. Both sides engage in media efforts. We do it. Sadly, we don’t own our own TV network.”

  • What to know about cyclosporiasis as the parasitic infection is found in 34 states

    What to know about cyclosporiasis as the parasitic infection is found in 34 states

    An intestinal parasite that causes “explosive” diarrhea is sickening people across 34 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.

    Despite outbreaks affecting two states bordering Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia region so far shows no signs of widespread illness from Cyclospora cayetanensis.

    Speaking to reporters, federal health officials said they had linked cyclosporiasis cases in a widespread outbreak in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Michigan alone had reported more than 3,000 cases by Tuesday.

    “It’s a much higher number than we typically see in a cyclosporiasis season — much, much higher than last year or the year before,” said Gwen Biggerstaff, the deputy director of CDC’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases.

    Reporting requirements for cyclosporiasis cases differ in Pennsylvania, but cases here remain relatively low. Cases were also at typical levels in New Jersey, and none has been reported in Delaware since May.

    Here’s what you need to know about the parasite and how to prevent it:

    How is cyclosporiasis spread?

    Cyclosporiasis is caused by a single-celled parasite, cyclospora, that spreads through fecal material. It can infect a person’s gut after consuming food or water contaminated by feces.

    Common symptoms include watery diarrhea, a loss of appetite, cramping, nausea, and fatigue. Past outbreaks have been associated with leafy greens and other produce, said Rosemary Trout, an associate professor of food science at Drexel University.

    The disease doesn’t spread directly from person to person. It becomes infectious after one to two weeks outside the body, and infected people may not immediately develop symptoms.

    “It can take two days to two weeks for symptoms to appear,” said Akhil Vaidya, a distinguished professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Drexel’s College of Medicine.

    “That has been the challenge for tracking where the parasite came from. Most likely it’s in some produce, but which produce it’s coming from is not really clear. People don’t remember what they ate two weeks back.”

    How do health officials track cyclosporiasis?

    Health officials in 47 states, including New Jersey and Delaware, are required by law to report cyclosporiasis cases to the CDC.

    Pennsylvania is among a handful of states where doctors are not required to report cases to health officials, but they do so on a voluntary basis, and state officials investigate and submit case reports to the CDC.

    A federal foodborne illness surveillance system, FoodNet, stopped tracking cyclosporiasis last year.

    But that program’s goal is to “look at trends over time to inform policy and prevention activities,” not monitor active outbreaks, and only drew data from 10 sites around the country, the CDC’s Biggerstaff said.

    “[FoodNet] doesn’t give us the data we have from national surveillance,” she said. That broader program is “unchanged,” she said.

    Are there cases in the Philly area?

    Though Pennsylvania borders Ohio and West Virginia, two states involved in an ongoing outbreak, cases here have been relatively low. So far this year, state health officials have reported 28 cases, 14 of them in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

    New Jersey has reported between 31 and 80 cases since May, when cyclosporiasis cases typically rise, according to the CDC. But health officials there said last week that the state is experiencing “normal seasonal circulation without known clusters or outbreaks.”

    Delaware has not reported any cases since May 1, the CDC said.

    What about cases elsewhere?

    Cases in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia are considered part of a “multistate outbreak” that is likely tied to a common source, Biggerstaff said. But it’s still unclear what that source is.

    Though the CDC has lagged behind states in confirming cases so far, the agency has confirmed 1,645 cyclosporiasis cases since May, and is monitoring 5,100 additional reported cases that will “require additional analysis to confirm,” Biggerstaff said.

    How is cyclosporiasis prevented?

    Good handwashing practices are the first line of defense against cyclosporiasis: Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds in hot, soapy water.

    Washing produce also helps, but rinsing does not necessarily remove all traces of cyclospora, said Trout, the food safety professor. Heating produce to 150 degrees Fahrenheit can kill the parasite.

    Trout said that higher-risk groups — immunocompromised people, young children, elderly people, and pregnant women — may want to avoid fresh produce and instead opt for frozen or canned fruit and vegetables.

    Most of those products have been treated with heat at some point in their packaging process.

    “If you are in a high risk population, or very worried about it, it’s valid,” she said. “The case number is very high, and it’s proximate to our state.”

  • The World Cup has ended for France’s Kylian Mbappé, but not his race for the tournament’s Golden Boot

    The World Cup has ended for France’s Kylian Mbappé, but not his race for the tournament’s Golden Boot

    ARLINGTON, Texas — Kylian Mbappé won’t get a third consecutive trip to the World Cup final, but he remains tied for first with Argentina legend Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot four years after he won it.

    Mbappé was unable to generate many chances in France’s 2-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup semifinals on Tuesday.

    Mbappé and Messi have eight goals each. Messi and defending champion Argentina will play in the other semifinal match against England on Wednesday (3 p.m., Fox29).

    France will play the loser of that match in the third-place game on Saturday in Miami (5 p.m., Fox29). Spain will take on the winner at MetLife Stadium on Sunday (3 p.m., Fox29).

    Mbappé had the fewest touches of any forward in the first half with 15. Perhaps his most prominent moment was trying to persuade referee Ivan Barton that the penalty resulting in Spain’s first goal shouldn’t have been called.

    Mbappé’s best chance came in the 67th minute when his shot deflected off Spain defender Marc Cucurella and went just wide. France was already trailing by two goals at that point.

    The 27-year-old Mbappé was issued a yellow card in the 86th minute when he rushed toward Unai Simón just as the Spain goalkeeper was bending over to pick up the ball. The two collided, sending Simón to the grass.

    Mbappé started the match against Spain after exiting in the 77th minute of his team’s 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco, when he scored his eighth goal of the tournament.

    Mbappé also scored eight goals four years ago in Qatar, where France lost to Messi and Argentina in a penalty shootout in the final. France beat Croatia to win the World Cup eight years ago in Russia.

  • Brandon Marsh’s dry hair, Paul Skenes matches Livvy Dunne, and the best looks from the MLB All-Star Game red carpet

    Brandon Marsh’s dry hair, Paul Skenes matches Livvy Dunne, and the best looks from the MLB All-Star Game red carpet

    You can take the baseball players off the field, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to stop sporting coordinated outfits.

    The All-Star red carpet ran through Independence Mall on Tuesday before that night’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, and the stars were putting their stellar fashion skills on display, as fans saw a lot of coordinated outfits between families.

    Here are some of the best looks from the All-Star red carpet:

    Brandon Marsh

    Sometimes the best outfits are less about the clothes and more about the overall look, and with a head of hair like Brandon Marsh’s, there’s little the clothes have to do.

    Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh with dry hair? We didn’t know that was possible.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Marsh wore his signature locks notably dry and tied back with an all-black look from shirt to pants, jacket, and shoes.

    But he wasn’t just bringing the fashion, he also was offering tips on haircare.

    The Phillies outfielder shared his hair routine with MLB Network’s Kait Maniscalco, stating that he doesn’t do much beyond washing it once or twice a week, usually after day games, and then, of course, wetting it every inning.

    “I just water it every inning just like you do the grass or the flowers,” Marsh said.

    Brandon Marsh has ‘good style,’ is ‘one of the best teammates’ and has broken out as an All-Star starter
    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (left) greets Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber and family on the red carpet.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Kyle Schwarber

    Kyle Schwarber might hit bombs, but his son apparently slings webs and is the real superhero in the family.

    The Schwarbers wore similar shades of blue as they walked the carpet. Schwarber’s two sons, Kade and Asher, wore matching blue suits and white shirts, while Kade struck a Spiderman pose in the family’s picture. Schwarber’s wife, Paige, who was credited with coordinating the family’s look, wore the same shade in her blue-and-orange patterned dress as she carried their 6-month-old daughter, who wore a cream tulle dress with flowers, down the carpet.

    Schwarbombs, boos and a walkoff: A 3D look at how Jordan Walker ruined a near storybook Home Run Derby for Phillies fans

    Monday night’s Home Run Derby runner-up matched his daughter in a cream suit while coordinating with his wife and sons in a pinstriped button- up in a different shade of blue. The family completed the look with white shoes; the boys and their father in sneakers, and Paige in white heels.

    Freddie Freeman

    The first family of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Freemans, brought their charm to Philadelphia, also wearing coordinated family outfits but with an earth-tone theme.

    All three sons, Charlie, Brandon, and Max, wore linen button-ups and pants in neutrals matching their father’s beige suit with a white shirt underneath.

    Freeman’s best accessory, however, was newborn daughter London, whom he carried on the red carpet. The almost 3-month-old also matched the family in a beige outfit of her own, complete with a pink headband and bow. His wife, Chelsea, wore a green satin mid-length dress to tie the looks together.

    Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne

    Paul Skenes and his girlfriend, former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, walked the carpet together in coordinated black-and-blue outfits.

    The Pirates ace wore a blue suit with a subtle plaid pattern and black details at the collar. He tied it together with a blue tie, an American flag tie clasp, black sunglasses, and black patterned shoes which Skenes called his “alligator boots.”

    Dunne said once Skenes said he was wearing blue and black, she found a dress to match. The gymnast turned actress and influencer wore a black halter-neck gown with blue waist detail and minimal jewelry to coordinate.

    Kevin McGonigle

    Detroit Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle made his All-Star red carpet debut in his hometown and walked the carpet with his parents.

    The 21-year-old shortstop wore a green patterned suit with a blue button-up underneath. He completed the look with a matching blue pocket square, brown shoes, and sunglasses.

    The Kevin McGonigle Fan Club has traveled far and wide to see him play. Now, Delco’s All-Star is coming home

    McGonigle didn’t specify whether the green was an ode to his hometown football team or his high school, Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast, but he did have his high school’s logo on the inside of his jacket, along with the All-Star Game logo and a Delco patch. He also shared what it means to walk his first red carpet in the city he grew up in.

    “Growing up in Philly, being able to have this experience in my home city, it’s really special, and I’m sure I’m going to see some more people down the red carpet,” McGonigle told MLB Network’s Lauren Shehadi.

    Juan Soto

    Sorry Philly fans, you can dislike him in orange and blue, but Juan Soto’s style out of uniform can’t be denied.

    The Mets superstar wore a golden taupe suit with a white shirt underneath and, naturally, he had the collar popped for some added swagger.

    His look was complete with silver chains, brown shoes, and sunglasses.

    Soto said he was dressed by a Dominican stylist with whom he collaborated to focus on dressing in a color scheme fit for the warm weather.

    Here are some more looks from the red carpet:

  • Mike Gansey ‘never would have envisioned’ landing Jaylen Brown in his first Sixers offseason — and is happy to wait on LeBron James’ decision

    Mike Gansey ‘never would have envisioned’ landing Jaylen Brown in his first Sixers offseason — and is happy to wait on LeBron James’ decision

    LAS VEGAS — When Mike Gansey wakes up each morning, he needs to remind himself what city he is in. Because his first month as the 76ers’ president of basketball operations has been a whirlwind.

    He has spent the past week getting an up-close look at first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr., whose crafty handle and scoring gumption already have stood out during NBA Summer League play. Before that, Gansey was in the Bahamas to watch electric second-year guard VJ Edgecombe play for his national team during FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Gansey’s Vegas stay came in the aftermath of the blockbuster trade for All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown, which jolted the NBA and reignited the Sixers’ fan base.

    And, “like the rest of the NBA,” Gansey is awaiting LeBron James’ free agency decision.

    “We’d love to have him in Philly,” Gansey told The Inquirer on Tuesday morning from the Sixers’ team hotel. “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 [41], he’s playing at such a high level. But it’s not surprising.

    “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.”

    Mike Gansey (center), here with Sixers managing partner Josh Harris and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment president Bob Myers, has hit the ground running in Philly.

    No matter where James lands, Gansey acknowledged he “never would have envisioned” the way his first Sixers offseason has unfolded.

    He arrived from the Cleveland Cavaliers with an understanding that Joel Embiid and Paul George, two former perennial All-Stars who have struggled to stay on the court in recent seasons, had multiple years remaining on max contracts. Gansey was not “actively trying” to trade either player, he said.

    After drafting Philon, the Alabama guard who unexpectedly fell to the Sixers at No. 22, Dean Wade was Gansey’s top free agency target as a complementary, defense-minded starting forward. The Sixers also hoped to add depth, shooting, and more quickness and athleticism.

    But after two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat instead of the Boston Celtics — and Boston’s offered return package anchored by Brown became public knowledge — Gansey leaned on a tactic he learned from Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman and owner Dan Gilbert.

    Make the call.

    “It’s kind of like, ‘Let’s check in with Boston and see if there’s anything there,’” Gansey said. “Maybe there isn’t. But you just make that call, and they don’t say no. … It just kept going on, and they would call us, we would call them.

    “You just keep having conversations. Next thing you know, we’re in LA [for free agency], and it was getting close and [feeling like] this might actually happen. …

    “That’s why, this business, you can plan all you want and prepare, but you just don’t know. Things happen.”

    VJ Edgecombe was ‘shocked’ by the Jaylen Brown trade, and loves the Sixers’ pursuit of LeBron James

    Gansey said Brown felt some initial “shock” that after 10 years in Boston, he had been traded to the rival Sixers. But Gansey believes Brown, who last season finished sixth in MVP voting after averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, will set the tone for the Sixers, who now have legitimate championship aspirations.

    “We’re just super lucky to get him, and I know he’s motivated,” Gansey said of Brown. “He’s going to be great for everyone because the young guys want that. He’s been a champion and Finals MVP. I think Joel’s in a great space, and he’s excited [to play with Brown], as well.

    “Obviously, we’ve got to see what it looks like. You can’t win a trade in July. Boston got some really good [draft] picks, and you saw Paul. He was a big reason why Philly beat Boston [in the playoffs’ first round]. You’ve got to give up a lot to get [Brown], and I think it’s a good trade for both teams.

    “Until we actually have a practice or a game, you just don’t know. You hope it’s going to work out, but it’ll take some time, I’m sure.”

    While Gansey acclimated to his new job on the fly, he credited the returning staff — including front-office executives Jameer Nelson and Prosper Karangwa and coach Nick Nurse — for “kind of [holding] it together.” Gansey reiterated that he wants to set a workplace culture in which people enjoy coming to the facility and looks forward to having deeper conversations with staffers later this summer.

    The selection of first-round draft pick Labaron Philon Jr. (center) was one of president of basketball operations Mike Gansey’s first big decisions. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    “It’s hard to do everything you want to do in a month,” Gansey said. “It’s going to take a year or two years just to kind of put my imprint on stuff. But I just want to build a place where my door is open. Come talk to me. I feel like I’m an open, people person. You can talk to me about anything: personal, professional, basketball stuff. …

    “I might be the boss … but I want to be like, ‘No, we’re working together. I don’t care about titles. I’m a part of this group, and I want us all to be successful.’”

    Once he departs Las Vegas — where he has regularly bumped into former Cavaliers colleagues while staying in the same team hotel — Gansey will see his four children for the first time in about a month. His family still needs to find a house in the Philly area.

    And maybe Gansey will finally get some real sleep. It would be warranted, after his first Sixers offseason unfolded in a way he never could have envisioned.

    “I just need a break,” Gansey said. “I think we all do, just because it’s been so much. … I don’t think it’s really set in.”

  • Philly schools will get $157 million more in this year’s state budget. Gov. Josh Shapiro came to South Philly to tout the plan.

    Philly schools will get $157 million more in this year’s state budget. Gov. Josh Shapiro came to South Philly to tout the plan.

    Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday visited Vare-Washington Elementary School in South Philadelphia to tout the $678 million in new education funding included in the state budget deal finalized over the weekend.

    The new education funding — including $565 million in “adequacy funding” to aid poorer districts — represented one of the most significant victories the first-term Democratic governor took home from the $50.8 billion state budget deal, which did not address lingering issues such as taxing so-called skill games and long-term funding for SEPTA and other public transit agencies.

    Here’s what’s in — and not in — Pennsylvania’s $50.8 billion state budget

    The Philadelphia School District will receive $137 million in adequacy funding and $20 million in other new funding. The district will also be able to compete for a share of $125 million set aside for school facilities projects.

    Philadelphia’s cash-strapped district, which entered this year with a $300 million structural budget deficit, still faces deep challenges. The school board this year approved a facilities plan to close 17 school buildings and renovate 169 more.

    “We’re driving this money out to the schools that need it most — school districts like Philadelphia, Norristown, Pottstown, and Allentown, and others in our region,” Shapiro said. “They were getting shortchanged, and now they’re getting the lion’s share of this new funding.”

    While it broke little new ground, this year’s state budget deal helped avoid another prolonged impasse involving Shapiro, the Democratic House, and the Republican Senate. Last year, lawmakers failed to reach a compromise until 135 days after the July 1 budget deadline, leaving school districts and local governments across the state in limbo for months.

    Lawmakers approved this year’s deal 12 days late.

    “I‘m one of the only governors in the country with a divided legislature, one of the only legislatures that has to negotiate with people on the other side who really have a very different view, who don’t think the way we do about investing in public education,” said Shapiro, who was joined by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and numerous Philadelphia Democratic lawmakers. “We have all been clear that we would not get up from the table in Harrisburg until we fully funded public education, and we’ve done that.”

    Students applaud speakers at Vare-Washington Elementary School during an assembly highlighting the education investments included in the 2026-27 state budget in Philadelphia, Pa. on July 14, 2026.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    The new adequacy funding is the third infusion of money resulting from a formula lawmakers adopted in the wake of a 2023 Commonwealth Court ruling that said Pennsylvania’s former method of funding schools, which relied heavily on local property taxes, was unconstitutional.

    The formula calculated that a majority of Pennsylvania schools were underfunded, by a total of $4.5 billion. For the last three years, the state has given those schools an extra $565 million a year, filling about one-third of the gap. The state plans to fully address the shortfall by 2032.

    Advocates for underfunded districts, like Philadelphia’s, have credited the state for sticking with the plan, but have also said the money is flowing too slowly for struggling districts. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have challenged the increased funding for poorer districts, saying others are getting shortchanged by the new system.

    Mayor Cherelle L. Parker speaks at Vare-Washington Elementary School to highlight the historic education investments included in the 2026-27 state budget, in Philadelphia, Pa. on July 14, 2026.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    Philadelphia’s school district, the only one in the state prohibited from raising its own revenue, relies on city and state lawmakers for its funding.

    Parker this year clashed with City Council over how to deliver roughly $50 million to the district to help close a budget gap that threatened to eliminate 340 classroom positions. Council ultimately rejected Parker’s proposal — to levy a $1-per-ride tax on rideshare services like Uber and Lyft — and instead pulled from one-time funding elsewhere in the budget while promising to find a new recurring revenue source for the district.

    “We have limited revenue-generating capacity in the city of Philadelphia,” Parker said Tuesday. “I wish I could tell you, as mayor, that we had all of the money that we needed to address problems, but that is not the case. Our city can’t be successful without a strong partnership from Harrisburg.”

    Mayor Parker and City Council now have one year to figure out a way to bring in $216 million after reversing Philly school cuts, officials say

    Parker thanked Shapiro and the city’s delegation to Harrisburg for “keeping your word” and delivering more education funding to Philadelphia from the state.

    Vare-Washington is one of 40 Philly schools included in Parker’s Extended Day/Extended Year initiative, which provides additional programming for students outside normal school hours.

    During her remarks, Parker led the students assembled at the event in several call-and-response chants, including, “Excellence matters — at Vare-Washington!”

    “I want to hear you say, ‘Thank you — Gov. Shapiro!’” Parker said in another chant. “‘Thank you — Harrisburg legislators!’”