Philly Starts June: Higher Bills, Big Crowds, and Sports Soul-Searching
Hey Philly. Hope you got outside this weekend—if not, here’s what you actually missed in the city (and what might mess with your wallet):
Money Moves: Brace for a PECO Rate Hike
Heads up: Electric bills are going up starting today. PECO is raising rates by 3.1%, the latest in a string of cost-of-living bummers. If you see a higher number on your next bill, it’s not your AC—it’s the new baseline price. Meanwhile, PECO workers voted to authorize a strike as contract talks drag on, so keep an eye out in case things get dicey with service or outage wait times.
Crowd Control: Roots Picnic Packs Fairmount Park
Thousands showed up to Belmont Plateau for the 2026 Roots Picnic, which promised one of its biggest lineups ever—Jay-Z headlined, and local artists (including a North Philly teen living the dream) got their shine on stage. If you were anywhere near Fairmount Park, you probably felt the traffic—or heard Jay in the breeze.
If music in daylight is your thing, The Franklin Institute is trying something new with a block party–style dance party on its steps to kick off summer. Mark your calendar.
Sports: Offense Disappearing Acts and Season Post-Morts
The Phillies lost their series out in LA, and the offense looked about as lost as a tourist on Broad Street. Even with new faces waiting in the wings, nobody’s happy about how May ended (read the post-mortem if you like pain).
The Sixers, on the other hand, are deep into reflection mode. Season recaps are out, with all your stats and hot takes on how Embiid, Maxey, and Paul George measured up. Question of the week: Has new guy Adem Bona earned any trust yet? Read the case here. Over with the Eagles, it’s the offseason, so cue the deep dives on Tank Bigsby.
Quick Hits
- RIP Pierre: Rittenhouse Square now has a bench dedicated to late WMMR host Pierre Robert (story).
- Health news: Nearly half of maternal deaths in Pennsylvania happen after six weeks postpartum, a stat that’s higher than most expect and pushing calls for better follow-up care.
- Juneteenth is coming: Local youth are prepping for the PA Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant. Should be worth a look.
That's the stuff that matters. Go get your Monday.
