Newsroom
The Politics of Brutalism
Amid the flurry of orders President Trump signed on his first day in office was a memorandum: “Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture.” It called for federal public buildings to respect “classical architectural heritage,” implicitly taking aim at a more recent...
Penn faculty join hundreds to rally against Trump administration’s federal research funding freeze
Over 300 individuals gathered together in Center City on Wednesday to protest recent federal funding cuts to academic research. The rally, held outside the office of Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) in Center City, was organized by Labor for Higher Education in...
Academics in N.J., Philly protest Trump administration cuts to scientific research
Dozens of protesters filled the atrium of the Life Sciences Building at Rutgers University-New Brunswick to show their opposition to President Donald Trump’s administration’s funding cuts and freezes targeting scientific research and higher education. The researchers...
Lead bidder for UArts’ Hamilton Hall plans art gallery, work space for artists, and restaurant
The lead bidder for the iconic Hamilton Hall on South Broad Street said Monday that the arts would be a focus for the building, with plans for a gallery in the front lobby where local artists’ work would be displayed and the public could view it for free. “Our goal is...
Rep. Fiedler, Sen. Saval, & Phila. Parks and Rec Celebrate $600,000 State Grant to Murphy Rec Center
Philadelphia PA − February 14, 2025 − Yesterday evening State Representative Elizabeth Fiedler (D–Philadelphia) and State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) joined Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson and South Philadelphia neighbors to celebrate a $600,000 state grant for repairs and upgrades to Murphy Recreation Center, a beloved South Philadelphia institution.
Senator Saval Celebrates a Budget Recognizing Housing as an Essential Need
Harrisburg, PA − February 4, 2025 − Celebrating the housing proposals in Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025–2026 budget address, State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia), who serves as Democratic Chair of the Senate’s Urban Affairs and Housing Committee and chairs the...
Public Officials Respond to Federal Immigration Actions, Pledge Commitment to Safety and Justice for All
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – February 4, 2025 – On January 31, 2025 in response to recent federal immigration actions across the country, local and state elected officials held a press conference to reaffirm their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of...
Survey of Philly artists shows worry over finding work, space and money
The main hurdle artists face is accessing information for opportunities to work and exhibit work in Philadelphia, according to a survey conducted by City Councilmember Rue Landau. The online survey conducted last fall shows that the top three concerns among artists...
After ICE raids this week, city officials take a stand against President Trump’s anti-immigration efforts
When Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials showed up at Boricua Restaurant #2 in Port Richmond this week, staff refused their request to see the kitchen. All of their paperwork was in order and the agents didn't have a warrant, the owner of the Puerto Rican...
Philly immigrant groups call for general strike on Super Bowl Sunday in protest of Trump admin policies
Pro-immigrant groups are calling for a general strike on Super Bowl Sunday in Philadelphia in order to show how important immigrants are to the regional economy. The groups gathered outside of City Hall Friday morning and were joined by Democratic elected officials...
Senator Saval Denounces Federal Attacks on Immigrant Communities and Urges Government to Support All Residents
Members of PA General Assembly and Philadelphia City Council Issue Joint Statement on ICE Raid in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA − January 29, 2025 —Today members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly representing districts in Philadelphia and members of Philadelphia City Council issued a statement in response to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) raid on a...
Working with representatives across political and geographic boundaries is important, says Pennsylvania state senator Nikil Saval
Democrat Pennsylvania state senator Nikil Saval represents the first district, which is the heart of Philadelphia. First elected in 2020, Senator Saval was re-elected in November 2024. He started his political career working with the labour union movement and in 2016...
Transform Your Home, Transform Your Life: How the Whole-Home Repairs Act Could Save Your Family’s Future
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) have teamed up to reintroduce the Whole-Home Repairs Act, a bipartisan initiative aimed at addressing the nationwide housing crisis. This innovative legislation seeks to give low- and...
PA’s popular Whole-Home Repairs Act looks to go Federal again as Fetterman, bipartisan group introduce bill again
WASHINGTON, DC- Last week, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) and Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) reintroduced the Whole-Home Repairs Act, a bipartisan bill to address the nationwide housing crisis by providing essential home repair assistance to low- and...
Senator Fetterman and Senator Cynthia Lummis reintroduce bill to help repair houses
(Washington, D.C.) The reintroduction of the Whole Home Repairs Act was announced by Senator John Fetterman and Senator Cynthia Lummis last week. This bill helps both landlords with small property and homeowners with low- and moderate-income by repairing houses. The...
Fetterman renews call to turn Pa.’s Whole Home Repairs program into national initiative
US Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) reintroduced a federal version of Pennsylvania’s popular Whole Home Repairs Program last week. The Whole-Home Repairs Act is a bipartisan bill aimed at repairing blighted communities by providing grants and forgivable loans to low- and...
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman pushes to make PA housing program a national pilot
An overwhelmingly popular house renovation program in Pennsylvania is once again being considered for a federal pilot program. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman introduced legislation last week to create a nationwide pilot of Whole-Home Repairs, a popular state program that...
A harbinger of warmer days, Philly Flower Show unveils ‘Gardens of Tomorrow’ theme
Chilly winds are blowing through the Philadelphia region, but there’s an event on the horizon designed to chase away the cold and offer an air of optimism for what is to come when winter leaves town. The Philadelphia Flower Show is just over a month away, so...
Pa. Dems still grappling with 2024 losses, debating identity politics and messaging
The 2024 election delivered resounding losses for the Democratic Party. Critical swing states broke for Donald Trump and the president-elect carried a coalition that included many working-class minority voters. A Pew study in November found that Democrats were more...