Starting a new job can be a whirlwind. Remembering everyone’s name. Filing everything in the correct format. Figuring out how to eat throughout a day on the run.
Now imagine six months in, you have to help turn around the budget for one of the nation’s largest cities.
BP’s Nick Kariuki caught up with council’s four newbies — Nina Ahmad, Rue Landau, Nicolas O’Rourke and Jeffrey “Jay” Young Jr. — to see what they learned, what surprised them, and what’s next. Continue reading…

Philadelphia’s Chinese Lantern Festival features more than 1,200 works of art at Franklin Square this summer.
This year’s festival takes place during the Year of the Dragon. The classic 164-foot-long dragon will be on display, which is longer than three school buses and weighs 6,000 pounds. Standing at 21 feet, the head was installed with a 15-person crew. More than 70 pieces make up this one lantern. Continue reading…

RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Trump met with protests ahead of speech at the Liacouras Center while thousands of supporters cheered him on. [WHYY]
• Philly Joy Bank launches guaranteed income program for pregnant Philadelphians that’s modeled off of similar programs in Canada, San Francisco and New York City. [WHYY]
•Philadelphia FIGHT’s HIV Education Summit returns in person for the first time since the pandemic. [WHYY]
• AFAHO in Southwest Philly celebrates African and Caribbean culture with first-of-its-kind block party. [WHYY]
• Philly-area health experts stress water safety amid rise in drownings and nationwide lifeguard shortage. [WHYY]
MAYOR WATCH
TK
ON THE CALENDAR
🏠 Monday, June 24: Declaration House Block Party
Celebrating Monument Lab’s newest exhibit at Declaration House, the block party wil mark the unveiling of Sonya Clark’s “The Descendants of Monticello.” See special performances and showcases from several historic and artistic orgs. (Free, reserve tickets online5 to 8 p.m., 7th Street between Market and Chestnut streets)
🌈 Tuesday, June 25: Philly Pride Celebration Concert
Three choruses combine at at the Kimmel Center featuring the ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir, the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, and Philadelphia Voices of Pride singing as one part of Philly’s Pride month celebration. (4 to 7 p.m. free pre-concert celebration in Commonwealth Plaza; free concert at 7 p.m., but tickets required)
🎤 June 24, 26, 27, 28: StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative
Active service members, veterans, and their loved ones are invited to record a conversation during one of our upcoming recording sessions at WHYY in late June. The initiative is designed to honor their voices, amplify their experiences, and let them know that we—as a nation—are listening. Book an interview online or by phone at 1-800-850-4406.
Catch up on the previous week
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