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

January 12, 2023

Neighborhoods

With 76ers new stadium, is Philly's Chinatown destined for same fate as Washington, D.C. neighborhood?

by Kristin Hunt

Philadelphia's Chinatown community is rallying against the proposed Sixers stadium on 10th and Market streets. Activists fear a repeat of history, pointing toward the impact of Capital One Arena on Washington, D.C.'s Chinatown neighborhood.

January 11, 2023

Social Justice

Philly medical society apologizes for 'silence' over Holmesburg Prison experiments

by Kristin Hunt

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is apologizing for its silence over the Holmesburg Prison experiments, which subjected mostly Black prison inmates to radioactive isotopes and known carcinogens. The tests were led by Dr. Albert Kligman, a Penn professor of dermatology and fellow in the College. He received an award from the medical society in 2003.

January 10, 2023

Wildlife

Protestors claim N.J. wind farm project is killing whales, but a marine scientist says that's 'unlikely'

by Kristin Hunt

A dead humpback whale washed ashore on the beaches of Atlantic City on Saturday, the third since December spotted along the Jersey Shore. Protest group Protect Our Coast NJ claims the Ocean Wind 1 power project is to blame, but Ed Hale, a marine scientist from the University of Delaware, says that's "unlikely." Though research on the effects of offshore wind turbines on marine wildlife is lacking, he said their deaths were likely caused by other factors.

January 10, 2023

Health News

Most Bucks, Montco residents involved in CDC study have moderate to high levels of 'forever chemicals'

by Kristin Hunt

Pennsylvania and New Jersey are among seven states participating in a national CDC study examining the relationship between PFAS and negative health outcomes. The so-called forever chemicals have been linked to higher cholesterol levels and increased risk of some cancers. Early results from Bucks and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania indicate moderate to high PFAS levels among residents.

January 5, 2023

Food & Drink

Apple pie pizza among the many adventurous foods available at the Pennsylvania Farm Show

by Kristin Hunt

The Pennsylvania FFA Foundation is offering an apple pie pizza at the 2023 Pennsylvania Farm Show this weekend in Harrisburg. Made with ingredients from local growers, the pie will cost $2 a slice. Other adventurous food items include hemp tea, fried berry Oreos, pumpkin or blueberry funnel cake and a goat sloppy Joe. Of course, there's also milkshakes, grilled cheese, ice cream and burgers.

January 5, 2023

Government

Sen. Bob Casey has prostate cancer, says prognosis is 'excellent'

by Kristin Hunt

Sen. Bob Casey announced has prostate cancer on Thursday. The three-term Democratic senator received the diagnosis last month, and expects to make a full recovery after surgery. Prostate cancer is the second-most common form of cancer among American men.

January 4, 2023

Business

Private mailbox services are booming in Philadelphia as residents seek options to combat package thieves

by Kristin Hunt

The increasing number of thefts of mail and packages has resulted in a boom for private mailbox businesses in Philadelphia as residents look for options to avoid porch pirates. A private mailboxes is a rental service that promises more security and flexibility than the traditional USPS and P.O. Boxes. In Philly these services are offered by businesses like Fishbox, Package Safe Club or Stash Spot.

January 2, 2023

Development

Jim's Steaks plans to reopen in 2023 with a second-story addition

by Kristin Hunt

Jim's South Street shared sketches of its rebuild on New Year's Day. The cheesesteak shop has been closed since July 29, 2022, when a two-alarm fire ripped through the building, but it plans to reopen sometime in 2023. When it does, it will include a second-story addition that matches its Art Deco storefront.

January 2, 2023

Performances

Alanis Morissette musical 'Jagged Little Pill' opens at Kimmel campus this week

by Kristin Hunt

"Jagged Little Pill," the Broadway musical based on the Alanis Morissette' album of the same name, opens at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia on Jan. 3, 2023. It runs through Jan. 15. The jukebox musical features hits like 'You Oughta Know' and 'Ironic.' Tickets cost $20 to $119.

January 2, 2023

Nature

Rare comet should appear in sky later in January — and it could be visible without a telescope

by Kristin Hunt

A rare comet, known as C/2022 E3 (ZTF), may be visible without a telescope in late January or early February, NASA predicts. The comet, which was photographed by space geeks on the East Coast around Christmas, was first spotted last March. It has not been this close to Earth since the Stone Age. It will not appear again for 50,000 years.