Philadelphia City Paper | Tom Namako | News | AAN.org

Philly's Rise in HIV Among Young Gay Males Has Led to New Testing Measures ... at Night Clubsnew

Years ago, drawing vials of blood and waiting two weeks for results gave way to a finger-prick or cheek swab and a 20-minute wait. Since today's tests are light on equipment, the process has been moved out of stuffy clinics and into RVs that can be parked in parts of town where incidences of the disease run high.

Philadelphia City Paper | Tom Namako | 08-05-2008 | Science

Tags: Philadelphia, HIV, Health & Science, gay & lesbian issues, HIV testing, mobile units

It's Been a Year Since Steven 'Butter' Miller Was Killed. Does Anyone Remember?new

When Butter was shot dead by police -- shot at 85 times, hit about 20 -- he was high, standing on a corner and waving a loaded gun. He hadn't pointed it at anyone, or if he had, it had been completely accidental, coincidental, because Butter was blank-eyed, detached from the world.

Philadelphia City Paper | Tom Namako and Doron Taussig | 07-29-2008 | Crime & Justice

Tags: Philadelphia, hip-hop, race relations, crime & justice, police shootings

Locked Down: What It's Really Like Inside Philly's Overcrowded Prisonsnew

The city's prisons woefully overpopulated and have been for several decades. Efforts to fix this problem have come up against the seemingly immutable fact that, on an average day, 108 people enter the six-prison system while only 105 leave it.

Philadelphia City Paper | Tom Namako | 06-24-2008 | Crime & Justice

Tags: Philadelphia, violence, prison, inmates, crime & justice, correctional officers, Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, prison overcrowding

Food Prices are Going Up, but Food Stamp Allowances Aren'tnew

There hasn't been a major revision of food stamp regulations since 2002. Philadelphians on food stamps continue to wait for any action, and improvise.

Philadelphia City Paper | Tom Namako | 05-13-2008 | Economy

Tags: Philadelphia, Farm Bill, food prices, food stamps, food pantries, Economic Issues

Philly's Prison Problemnew

Why didn't Mayor Nutter mention prison costs in his first budget address?

Philadelphia City Paper | Tom Namako | 02-26-2008 | Crime & Justice

Tags: crime & justice

Can You Find the 10,000 Men?new

The 10,000 Men movement has been marred by declining momentum, poor communication and shoddy organization.

Philadelphia City Paper | Tom Namako | 02-12-2008 | Crime & Justice

Tags: crime & justice

Who's Watching the Watchers in Philly?new

A police-oversight agency is shuttered.

Philadelphia City Paper | Tom Namako | 01-15-2008 | Crime & Justice

Tags: crime & justice

Mapping the Trajectory of Blame for Philly's Gun Epidemicnew

Is there any chance of getting over the statewide impasse that could lead to stronger crime gun laws? Or are we stuck with the way things are now?

Philadelphia City Paper | Tom Namako | 12-26-2007 | Crime & Justice

Tags: crime & justice

Gov. Rendall Wants Everybody to be Insurednew

But his isn't the only proposal in Pennsylvania -- state Rep. Kathy Manderino has introduced a single-payer system which is supported by 29 other Democrats.

Philadelphia City Paper | Tom Namako | 09-25-2007 | Science

Tags: Health & Science