John Kopp

John Kopp

John Kopp is the Chief Health Reporter/Assistant Editor at PhillyVoice. He joined the newsroom after spending five years reporting for the Delaware County Daily Times. He spent the prior year covering state and local politics, including a $4 million Pennsylvania state Senate race. He previously covered Chester city government, the Chester Upland School District and high-school sports. A Temple University graduate, John enjoys long-distance running, watching baseball and exploring new places.

john@phillyvoice.com

August 6, 2024

2024 Election

Kamala Harris picks Tim Walz as her running mate over Josh Shapiro, others

Vice President Kamala Harris selected Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday, bypassing Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was among several top contenders. The 2024 Democratic ticket will face Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, in November's general election.

July 12, 2024

Baseball

MLB's most nomadic team, the Oakland Athletics, are abandoning another city, like they did to Philly 70 years ago

The Athletics left Philadelphia for Kansas City in 1954, a move forced by ownership squabbles, attendance declines and baseball's changing economics. Seventy years later, the A's again are moving – from Oakland to Sacramento and Las Vegas – prompting former Philly A's fans to reflect on the team's final years in Philadelphia.

April 7, 2024

TV

'Saturday Night Live' roasts Charles Barkley in cold open about Women's NCAA Tournament

'Saturday Night Live' riffed on March Madness, Kim Mulkey and the TBS postgame show during its cold open on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Keenan Thompson's impression of Charles Barkley poked fun at the former Sixers star's gambling habits, commercial appearances and storytelling.

April 7, 2024

Weather

Partly cloudy skies may make the solar eclipse harder to see in Philly

A partial solar eclipse will be visible in the Philadelphia region on Monday, April 8, 2024 from 2:08 p.m. to 4:35 p.m., with 90% totality occurring at 3:23 p.m. The National Weather Service forecast calls for partly cloudy skies. Clouds may impact visibility of the eclipse.

April 7, 2024

Adult Health

Loneliness may cause unhealthy food cravings, study suggests

New research from UCLA Health helps explain why binge eating is a common coping mechanism for loneliness. In a study, women who felt lonely had increased brain activity in regions tied to cravings – particularly when they were shown images of sugary and other high-calorie foods. They also tended to have higher amounts of body fat, poor diets, more food cravings and increased levels of anxiety and depression.

April 7, 2024

Transportation

I-95 North in Port Richmond reopens after Conrail wraps up bridge repairs

PennDOT reopened I-95 North in Port Richmond at 4 p.m. Saturday – five days after a tractor-trailer with an oversized load hit a railroad bridge that passes over the highway. The road closure had prompted traffic delays in Philadelphia while Conrail crews repaired the bridge. Motorists were detoured along Aramingo and Adams avenues.

December 7, 2023

Illness

RSV is spreading rapidly as the holiday season kicks into gear

RSV cases continue to rise rapidly in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with influenza and COVID-19 ticking upward. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people get vaccinated against these respiratory illnesses and take other precautions as the holiday season approaches.

June 10, 2022

Illness

Monkeypox does not spread through airborne particles, CDC says

The monkeypox virus primarily spreads through direct, physical contact with the bodily fluids or sores of an infected person, the CDC stressed Friday. It is not known to spread through airborne transmission – a characteristic that aids the spread of highly contagious illnesses like COVID-19 and measles.

June 10, 2022

Investigations

Investigation into Philly's mishandling of MOVE bombing remains provides few answers

An independent investigation into Philadelphia's handling of victims' remains from the 1985 MOVE bombing details faulty record-keeping by the medical examiner's office. But it does not answer why remains discovered in 2017 were not given to the victims' families or cremated – as instructed by former Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. The investigation was conducted by the law firms Dechert and Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads.

December 30, 2021

Health Stories

After years of digestive issues, atypical surgery offers Swarthmore woman relief

Akia McDowell suffered from achalasia, a rare digestive disorder, for years before becoming the first pregnant woman to undergo a POEM procedure, a non-invasive surgery that alleviates GI symptoms. One year later, the Swarthmore resident has a healthy baby and far fewer digestive issues.

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