Latest News
What a Roosevelt Boulevard Subway would mean for Philly
Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philly is one of the city’s busiest thoroughfarefares. It’s also one of the most dangerous roads in the city. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, More than one in 10 traffic deaths in Philadelphia happen on the Boulevard. Chelsea Lubbe met up with Dr. Jay Arzu at 30th Street Station…
Demonstrators push for more funding for Cecil B. Moore Library renovations
Major repairs are planned for Cecil B. Moore Library in North Philadelphia. But after years of delays and disagreement over what those renovations should look like, some neighbors say the current plan still doesn’t go far enough. So once a month, they gather outside of their district council person’s office for an unusual kind of…
The hidden history of Black animators
When most people think about the history of animation, we might think of Disney, Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera, or other famous studios and directors.
But some of the people who helped shape the animation many of us grew up with never became household names. Monique Moore Pryor brings us this story about the overlooked history of…
A shuttle that buses Camden residents to the nearest supermarket… in Cherry Hill
Camden is home to the 76ers practice facility, the national headquarters of Subaru of America, and a host of higher education and medical institutions. But the city does not have a full-service grocery store and has not had one for more than a decade. One group is trying to ensure that Camden residents still have…
Why (some) Philadelphians don’t vote
There’s less than two weeks until the November 3rd election, but it’s not clear how many people in our region. While 65 percent of elible voters in Philadelphia cast ballots in the last presidential election, only 47 percent voted the last time there was a gubernatorial election, like this year. Block by Block reporter Lawanda…
Cleaning and greening Kensington, one lot at a time
Kensington is a Philadelphia neighborhood at the center of the city’s opioid epidemic. It’s known for its high poverty rate. Kensington is also gentrifying. Property values are climbing as developers purchase low-cost homes and lots. And target them for redevelopment. One thing Kensington isn’t as well known for are its green spaces. But Black by…
South Square Market’s closure leaves an impact on the Graduate Hospital neighborhood
A grocery store at 23rd and South Street closed this summer after serving the Graduate Hospital neighborhood for almost two decades. These days, Graduate Hospital is the opposite of a food desert. There are nine other grocery stores within one mile. But some neighbors are still mourning the loss. Block by block reporter Gigi Guida…
East Parkside community members resist unchecked development
Philadelphia’s East Parkside neighborhood in West Philly is located right Behind attractions like the Please Touch Museum and Philadelphia Zoo. It’s a historic neighborhood with homes along Parkside Avenue that date back to the late 1800s when wealthy German businessmen built many mansions across from Fairmount Park. Today, it’s a predominantly black neighborhood with a…
Creating inclusive education environments for neurodivegent students
When you think about education, you may think about what children are learning and how they are being taught. But what about the spaces where the education is taking place? For many children, The sights, sounds, and physical environment of the typical classroom can make learning next to impossible.
Latest Episodes
November 4, 2026 (Block by Block)
This week we hear about a group of demonstrators advocating for more money to renovate a well-loved North Philly library, a long-stalled plan to build a subway along Philadelphia’s Roosevelt Boulevard, the hidden history of Black animators, and a shuttle program that takes Camden residents to the nearest full-service grocery stores… in Cherry Hill.
October 21, 2026 (Block by Block)
With the November 3 election less than two weeks away, this episode features a story about Philadelphians who choose not to to vote… and why. We also hear about what…
October 18, 2026 (Around the Block)
On this episode, we hear about a new book shop in South Philly, and we have a conversation about the impact of school closures with Fahmee Shabazz, a parent organizing…
October 7, 2026 (Block by Block)
This episode features stories on city of Philadelphia lawsuit against gun maker Glock over deceptive marketing, the challenges facing mental health professionals, how some community members are helping fill the…
September 20, 2026 (Around the Block)
This episode features stories from reporters Milan Parker and Alisha Miranda about how communities are stepping up to fill a gap left by the small number of Philadelphia schools staffed…
August 16, 2026 (Around the Block)
This episode features a story about efforts preserve the character of Philadelphia’s historic buildings and neighborhoods from unchecked development, and an interview with Philadelphia City Council Education Chair Isaiah Thomas…