AltWeeklies Wire
Federal Secure Communities Program Changes the Reality for Philly's Undocumentednew

ICE says that Secure Communities targets those illegal immigrants guilty of committing serious crimes. But immigrant advocates say the program will thrust lower-level offenders and innocent people behind bars, and hinder police in their work with immigrant communities.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Daniel Schwartz |
08-25-2009 |
Immigration
Little Kid, Life Sentencenew

Pennsylvania has more juvenile lifers than any other state in the union. This year the U.S. Supreme Court will make decisions that could completely change the existence of people such as Stacey Torrance, who has been in jail since he was 14.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Matt Stroud |
08-04-2009 |
Crime & Justice
An Eye for a McFlurry: One Terrible Reason to Lose a Body Partnew
Brandon Henderson lost his left eyeball over a McFlurry. On the evening of Feb. 15, authorities say, Khalif Lewis, an 18-year-old cashier at a West Philadelphia McDonald's, attacked the 35-year-old Henderson as he attempted to leave the restaurant after an argument over whether he could substitute a dessert item for french fries.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Mike Newall |
07-20-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Meet the People Who Fought (and Continue to Fight) Our Wars in the Middle Eastnew
More than 1.5 million Americans have fought in this country's two ongoing wars. While public interest and news coverage in Iraq and Afghanistan have waxed and waned, these volunteers have continued to stream to and from the battlefield. Here are 12 such people from the Philadelphia area.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Charles Cieri |
07-07-2009 |
War
A Philly Startup Tries to Bring Philanthropy into the Wireless Agenew
For the past year, iugo has been developing applications that you can download onto your iPhone or BlackBerry, and, with a single click, donate to the organization of your choice precisely when the spirit moves you. And you can give as little as the cost of the latest Lady Gaga single on iTunes.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Maureen Coulter |
06-30-2009 |
Business & Labor
T. Desiree Hines Will Change the Way You Think about Trans Philadelphianew

Desiree Hines' latest venture, the little-engine-that-could 2009 Philadelphia GLBT Arts Festival, is certainly her greatest undertaking, born out of a desire to give an underrepresented, misunderstood community the chance to shine.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Carolyn Huckabay |
06-02-2009 |
LGBT
Can E3 Put the Green Back in Banking?new

E3bank, the first sustainability-focused bank in the Philadelphia region, is not your typical financial hub.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Andrew Thompson |
04-23-2009 |
Environment
The 'Truth' on Taxes: Does Philadelphia Mayor Have Science on His Side?new
When it comes to taxes, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is a man of conviction. We might even call him a man of faith, so strong and unwavering is his belief that Philadelphia must not, cannot, shall not raise its wage and business taxes to help plug the great gaping $2 billion hole in Philadelphia's five-year budget.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Isaiah Thompson |
04-21-2009 |
Policy Issues
Did the Push to Save Philadelphia's Libraries Backfire?new
The decision not to close any of Philly's libraries may come at a cost. Because while all branches remained open this fall, the libraries did suffer from the first round of budget cuts: Free Library Director Siobhan Reardon now faces the prospect of running all 49 branches with significantly fewer resources per library.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Isaiah Thompson |
03-24-2009 |
Economy
Clean and Green Pedi-Cabs Are Poised to Run Amok in Philadelphianew
Pedi-cabs and velo-taxis are passenger bicycles that could be the future of green transportation in Philadelphia, with weary pedestrians hailing them when they need a lift.
Philadelphia City Paper |
A.D. Amorosi |
03-24-2009 |
Transportation
Loose Canon: Once and Future Journalismnew
Matt Golas' news beat is Philadelphia's best: development. And he's living the journalist's dream of telling the truth without being badgered by bean counters.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Bruce Schimmel |
02-24-2009 |
Media
Olney the Lonelynew
Peering through the kaleidoscope of one of Philly's most diverse and overlooked neighborhoods.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Brian Howard |
02-24-2009 |
Housing & Development
Tags: Philadelphia, neighborhoods
How a Dermatologist Accidentally Found a Promising Cure for Baldnessnew
Man may crave the secret of eternal life. But even if that problem were solved, most gents would trade that knowledge for the answer to one question: How do I keep my hair? University of Pennsylvania dermatologist George Cotsarelis may have solutions.
Philadelphia City Paper |
A.D. Amorosi |
01-27-2009 |
Science
How Slot Machines Are Secretly Designed to Seduce and Destroy Younew

Slots-only gambling parlors located in highly populated areas are precisely the model that Foxwoods and SugarHouse casinos hope to replicate in Philadelphia. Gov. Ed Rendell and others have portrayed slots as a safe medium. The opposite is true.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Isaiah Thompson |
01-13-2009 |
Economy
New Sustainability Mag Builds a Base in Phillynew
Living sustainably has been a buzzed-about notion for years, but given the economic uncertainty we're all steeping in at present, the idea's become trendy for an entirely new reason. Into the breach comes Grid, a fledgling magazine pointing "Towards a Sustainable Philadelphia.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Brian Howard |
12-02-2008 |
Media