Yesterday in Philly
Big Storms, School Money Fights, and Hotel Workers Walk Out
Weather: Lightning, Downpours, and World Cup Delays
If you were anywhere near Center City yesterday, you know about the storms. Tornado warnings, heavy rain, and some epic lightning delays soaked Philly right before the France-Iraq World Cup match. The FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill? Shut down early for the day (again), so if you got rained out, you weren't alone.
World Cup Vibes… With Picket Lines
While Philly plays host to the world, hospitality workers at the Sheraton in Center City hit the picket lines—striking for better pay even as World Cup tourists pour in. Whether you’ve got friends visiting or you’re looking for a cheaper hotel room, this could get interesting as the city hosts more matches.
Parker Goes to Harrisburg (Again)
Our new mayor and city leaders took another field trip to Harrisburg, standing in front of the Capitol to (once again) demand the state cough up more cash for Philly schools. With barely a week until the state budget deadline, expect this story to heat up. If you're a parent, educator, or taxpayer, this fight could change what our schools look like next year.
New Property Assessments Are Coming
Philly homeowners, check your mail soon: new property assessments are on the way and tax hikes might follow. The city says it’s making things “fairer” but, let’s be real, this almost always means more questions (and maybe more taxes) for longtime residents. Not a homeowner? File this under "future adult headaches."
Quick Hits
- The Phillies took two of three from the Mets. Bryce is heating up again.
- The First Bank of the United States is reopening as a museum. History nerds, rejoice.
- The Aesop Queer Library is giving away free LGBTQ+ books at 17th & Walnut. Worth checking out, if for nothing else than the vibes.
- Caught double-voting: A Philly woman pleaded guilty to casting two ballots in the 2024 election. (Before you ask: No, this doesn’t mean “widespread fraud.”)
- Lost power or WiFi yesterday? Comcast had an outage that hit Philly and beyond.
- Massive warehouse fire sent black smoke across Montgomery County. Fortunately, no major injuries reported.
- Miss the sun? Beachstock takes over Margate this weekend (all-day party alert).
That’s the big stuff. The rest? Phillies rumors (yes, they could maybe catch the Braves), a Phanatic-themed Airbnb, UNO Social Club coming to Fishtown, and, for adventurous types, learn to row on the Schuylkill—if that’s your speed.
Stay dry, Philly. More storms on the way.
