Kristin Hunt

Kristin Hunt is a senior staff writer for PhillyVoice. A history and pop culture junkie, she spends her spare time stalking the Free Library shelves and binge watching TCM. She has previously contributed to Vulture, GQ, Mental Floss, JSTOR Daily, and The Washington Post.

kristin@phillyvoice.com

August 24, 2023

Women's Health

Severe pregnancy complications have surged in Pennsylvania, and they're particularly prevalent in Philly

by Kristin Hunt

Severe maternal morbidities rose by 40% across Pennsylvania between 2016 and 2022, according to new data from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. Philadelphia had the fourth-highest rate in the state. Pregnancy complications that increased included shock, sepsis, acute renal failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

August 23, 2023

Weekend

A bookstore crawl and $4 movies: Your weekend guide to things to do

by Kristin Hunt

This weekend in Philadelphia, the city's first bookstore crawl will be held on Saturday, Aug. 26, and movie theaters offer $4 tickets for National Cinema Day on Sunday, Aug. 27. An interactive pirate show also comes to Penn's Landing.

August 23, 2023

Investigations

Philly police officer that shot Eddie Irizarry to be fired, officials say

by Kristin Hunt

Mark Dial, the Philadelphia police officer who fatally shot 27-year-old Eddie Irizarry in Kensington on Aug. 14, 2023 has been suspended and will be fired in 30 days, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said Wednesday. Dial refused to cooperate with internal investigations into the shooting, officials said.

August 22, 2023

Education

After rejecting a request to ban books, one Chester County school district now hears an appeal

by Kristin Hunt

The Oxford Area School District will consider an appeal after rejecting a request to ban the books The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Lucky by Alice Sebold, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky from its high school library.

August 22, 2023

Wildlife

Philadelphia Zoo adopts two orphaned puma cubs

by Kristin Hunt

The Philadelphia Zoo announced the addition of two orphaned puma cubs. The wild cats arrived from Washington state, where they were rescued in June. The cubs are named Elbroch and Olympia but will not be on display until late summer or early fall.

August 22, 2023

Environment

What the landmark youth climate change case in Montana could mean for Pa.

by Kristin Hunt

After a landmark climate change case in Montana, legal experts believe other states could see a ripple effect. Like Montana, Pennsylvania is one of the few states with environmental protections in its constitution.

August 18, 2023

Government

Pa. lawmakers push for statewide 4-day workweek

by Kristin Hunt

State Rep. G. Roni Green, a Democrat from Philadelphia, announced plans to introduce a bill standardizing a four-day workweek for large employers. Similar legislation has already been introduced at the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and in Massachusetts, Maryland and U.S. Congress.

August 18, 2023

Courts

Philly Proud Boys leader could get 30-year prison sentence for role in U.S. Capitol attack

by Kristin Hunt

Federal prosecutors want to sentence Zachary Rehl, the former leader of the Philadelphia chapter of the Proud Boys, to 30 years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rehl was convicted of seditious conspiracy in May. The requested sentence is among the longest requested for a convicted Jan. 6 conspirator.

August 17, 2023

Travel

American Airlines to offer nonstop flights from Philly to Nice, Naples and Copenhagen in 2024

by Kristin Hunt

American Airlines will add three nonstop routes to Naples, Italy; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Nice, France for the first time out of Philadelphia International Airport. The flights will run seasonally beginning in the 2024 spring. Also, daily flights to San Antonio will resume after a four-year hiatus.

August 17, 2023

Social Justice

Life after prison proves to be frustrating, even for those only pretending they're trying to get back on their feet

by Kristin Hunt

Some got to experience the challenges facing formerly incarcerated people during a simulation hosted by Eastern State Penitentiary. In Pennsylvania, nearly 65% of people released from state prison are rearrested or reincarcerated within three years.