Pennsylvania will join the majority of states that ban motorists from handling a cell phone for almost any purpose while driving, as backers of the legislation hope to reduce distracted driving accidents and deaths after nearly two decades of pressing the measure. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office said Thursday that the Democrat will sign the bill, 18 years after he first introduced a similar bill when he served in the state House of Representatives. The ban will take effect a year after he signs it, which is expected in the coming days. The bill also includes a provision long-sought by the Pennsylva ..read more

This story origianlly appeared on 6abc. An investigation is underway at Temple University after the Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi house was vandalized. Photos of the vandalism are circulating on social media showing the words “Free Palestine” spray-painted on the roof of the fraternity house. Zachary Fajge is a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi at Temple. He says they’re hoping to find out who is responsible. “I don’t care what people’s political views are on the whole conflict, but when you’re going onto someone else’s property vandalizing it, trespassing onto someone else’s property that’s whe ..read more

The University of Pennsylvania has placed six students on a mandatory leave of absence for their reported participation in a pro-Palestine encampment on campus. The actions against the students are part of Penn’s response to the continued on-campus protest and are pending the results of an investigation by Penn’s Center for Community Standards and Accountability, a school spokesperson told WHYY News. Those close to the encampment initially said the six students had been suspended. Word of the disciplinary action follows Wednesday’s expansion of the tented encampment, effectively tripling its s ..read more

The University of Pennsylvania has announced increased security measures for commencement later this month as a pro-Palestinian encampment continues. Penn officials say there will be a “high level of security” at all Franklin Field gates and on the field inside the stadium for the May 20 graduation ceremony. All graduates and guests will also have to clear airport-style security screening. Officials warn this will slow entry into the venue and urge attendees to plan accordingly. Gates will open at 8 a.m. and the ceremony will begin at 10:15 a.m. Graduates will be required to show the ..read more

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know! Philadelphia’s sweep of a homeless encampment in Kensington is a start, but deep-seated issues remain. That’s according to Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, who represents the area. Lozada was at Kensington and Allegheny avenues as the tarps, tents and other shelters were removed from the once-thriving business district, which had been transformed into something of a tent city. Lozada said many of the people living on the streets in the targeted two-block area had already fled well bef ..read more

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro will sign legislation to criminalize the misuse of a powerful animal tranquilizer called xylazine that is showing up in supplies of illicit drugs and contributing to a growing number of human overdose deaths, his office said Wednesday. Xylazine, which is being mixed into fentanyl and other illicit opioids, will remain legal for its intended use by veterinarians. The bill received approval from the state House of Representatives and the Senate in the past week. Under the bill, xylazine will be listed as a “schedule III” drug under Pennsylvania ..read more

This story originally appeared on 6abc. The Gaza Solidarity encampment at the University of Pennsylvania has now been in place for two weeks, despite orders from school officials to disband. The encampment has tripled in size, with dozens of tents now set up on College Green. Philadelphia police vans can now be seen parked along 34th and Walnut streets near the encampment. The vans are used to transport people who have been taken into custody, but as of Thursday morning, there is no activity to indicate that will happen. So far, all is quiet with no timeline on whether the encampment at Penn w ..read more

Mother’s Day Weekend is here and concerts in Philadelphia and Atlantic City are good choices for R&B and gospel-loving moms. If mom’s a foodie, here’s a list of Mother’s Day brunches. If she’s a hip-hop hipster, Sushi by Bou offers two price tiers for brunch in their new ‘90s rap-inspired space. If house and EDM are more to her liking (but she still checks the hipster box), DJ Ben Arsenal is at Vinyl, an intimate speakeasy-like space that features live music, on Saturday. If she’s more hippie than hipster, Neil Young is in town, too. Australian comedian Celeste Barber is at the Miller Thea ..read more

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know! John Faye lives about an eight-minute drive from the H Mart in Cheltenham, a shopping mall and food court chain specializing in Korean goods. He goes all the time. He says the bibimbap beef rice bowl (No. 37A pictured in the overhead menu) is pretty good. It’s not great, but it’s not bad, which makes it just right. “I think about the food my mom made when I was growing up. It’s not super fancy,” said Faye, 57. “There’s a restaurant on the other side of this parking lot that’s a li ..read more

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know! When husband-and-wife team Corey Armideo and Heather Armideo started Perkasie Porchfest in 2022, their goal was to showcase local bands and create a free, walkable, family-friendly music festival. But the couple could not reach an agreement with Perkasie Borough officials to host the event this year, and in April, Perkasie Porchfest was canceled. Almost immediately, Heather Armideo said that bands who had performed in years past and residents of Perkasie and neighboring towns reac ..read more