Senator Bob Casey spoke on Wake Up With WURD with Solomon Jones about President Biden’s announcement to stop sending artillery to Israel if it continues to target Rafah. Casey also spoke about the recent “encampment resolution” in Kensington.  Mike Africa Jr. is the son of two political prisoners of the MOVE organization. He spoke to Solomon Jones about embarking on 13 half marathons until 2025 to commemorate each victim of the 1985 MOVE bombing. Actor and singer Leon joined Reality Check with Tonya Pendleton to discuss his upcoming movie “The Rhythm and The Blues ..read more

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA Photo courtesy of Holli Zelinsky HARRISBURG — Holli Zelinsky often thinks about selling or even closing the Doodle Bug. She opened the preschool and child care center in rural Schuylkill County in 2007, and making the finances work has always been a challenge. But after the coronavirus pandemic upended the child care industry over four years a ..read more

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA Photo: Matt Smith / For Spotlight PA HARRISBURG — For the first time in at least 16 years, the Democratic and Republican parties in Pennsylvania are within half a million registered voters of one another. Since 2008, Democrats’ registration edge over Republicans has steadily shrunk — from a 12% advantage in April 2008 to about a 4% advantag ..read more

Photo: Kala J. and Andrea Lawful-Sanders Michael Sierra-Arévalo is an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Texas at Austin. He joined Solomon Jones on Wake Up With WURD to talk about Ryan Pownall’s reinstatement as a Philadelphia police officer after shooting a Black man in the back and how the decision reverberates through the justice and policing system. Ahsan Nasrutallah is the founder and president of JNA Capital. He joined Tonya Pendleton on Reality Check to unveil Africa Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) and partners’ new Africa Center at 55th and Ch ..read more

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Kate Giammarise of WESA Daniel Fishel / For Spotlight PA HARRISBURG — Records obtained by Spotlight PA and WESA offer the most comprehensive public accounting to date of how counties across the state have used tens of millions of dollars they received in opioid settlement money. The state’s billion-dollar opioid windfall has brought hope to ..read more

Sheriff Rochelle Bilal disputes controversy on Wake Up With WURD with Solomon Jones on her role in recent news of the sheriff’s office misspending public funds despite claims the office is underfunded. Sabrina Talukder of the Center for American Progress joined Evening WURDs with Dr. James Peterson to discuss recent information on the Supreme Court case, Idaho vs. United States, that will change the trajectory of emergency abortion care nationally. Ernest Owens of City Council Live and Tonya Pendleton of Reality Check, hosted a special Laborers Live Election Day Special with political candid ..read more

WURD Radio celebrated Each Day on April 20 with its annual ecoFEST. Hosted by ecoWURD Magazine’s P.O.C. at Belmont Mansion, the event focused on eco-friendly practices and workshops while compelling conversations provided an in-depth look at sustainability in our communities. The day included several panels including: “One Philly: Uniting for Safe, Clean and Green Futures” featuring Casey Kuklick, Deputy Director of the City of Philadelphia’s Office for Clean and Green Initiatives  “Black Green Voices, Bold Actions: Empowering Activism within Environmental Justice” featuring Erika ..read more

Christopher Baxter is the executive director and editor in chief of Spotlight PA For the past decade, there’s been nothing short of a crisis in our state capital. More and more of Pennsylvania’s sprawling and costly bureaucracy operated without scrutiny from investigative reporters, the watchdogs tracking how our hard-earned tax dollars are spent and demanding answers from lawmakers about waste, fraud, and abuse. Together, we can restore accountability. I’m proud to introduce you to Spotlight PA, a nonpartisan, statewide, and member-funded newsroom based in Harrisburg with the mission of hol ..read more

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA Photo: Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA HARRISBURG — Thousands of Pennsylvanians could soon be hit with higher internet bills when a federal program that gives a discount to low-income households starts to run out of money next month. Unless Congress approves more funding, April will be the last time many residents receive the benefit in ..read more

Kenny Burns, a South New Jersey reporter for WHYY, detailed on Reality Check with Tonya Pendleton, the charges against Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small and his wife La’Quetta Small of abusing and assaulting their teenage daughter on multiple occasions. Mayor Cherelle Parker outlined her 100 day address to Solomon Jones on Wake Up With WURD. Parker focused on public safety, less restrictions on economic development and accessible, robust education for all Philadelphians. Steve Bilski serves as the Memphis Street Academy CEO and principal. He talked about chronic absenteeism with Andrea Lawful ..read more