Michael Tanenbaum

Michael Tanenbaum is a senior staff writer for PhillyVoice.com, with interests ranging from technology and behavioral health to local community initiatives and cultural life. Michael has written for the Argentina Independent and Bespoke Magazine and previously served as a news editor for Xfinity.com before joining PhillyVoice. He received his B.A. in The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University.

tanenbaum@phillyvoice.com

January 18, 2023

Real Estate

Greening vacant lots in Philly raised surrounding property values by 4.3% in first year, Wharton study finds

by Michael Tanenbaum

A program to transform vacant lots in Philadelphia into green community spaces resulted in property value increases for homes within a 1,000-foot radius of these projects, according to research from the Wharton School. The study found that on average, homes near these lots increased in value by 4.3% after one year and cumulatively by 13% after six years. The period of the study is from 2007-2017. The lots were greened through the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Philadelphia LandCare program.

January 17, 2023

Media

Ray Didinger to join SportsRadio 94WIP's new morning show as Eagles contributor

by Michael Tanenbaum

Legendary Philadelphia Eagles writer and broadcaster Ray Didinger will come out of retirement to join the new SportsRadio 94WIP "Morning Show" as an Eagles contributor, the Audacy station announced. Didinger retired last year after 53 years covering the team. He will also return to NBC Sports Philadelphia's "Eagles Postgame Live" for playoff coverage beginning Saturday night after the Eagles face the Giants in the divisional round at Lincoln Financial Field.

January 17, 2023

Wildlife

Pennsylvania professor discovers 5 million-year-old fossil of previously unknown, extinct turtle

by Michael Tanenbaum

Fossils of an extinct and previously unknown species of painted turtle were discovered at the ancient Gray Fossil Site in eastern Tennessee. The fossil was found and determined to be a new species by Harrisburg University professor Steven Jasinski. It is named Chrysemys corniculata for the distinctive horn-like points on its shell.

January 16, 2023

Adult Health

Millennials' risk of fatal stroke could be higher than past generations

by Michael Tanenbaum

Millennials could be at greater risk for dying from a stroke than past generations, according to a new analysis out of Rutgers University. Although overall stroke mortality in the United States has declined, the rate at which younger people are dying from strokes is increasing. The Rutgers study is the first stroke death analysis to divide patients by their years of birth and the first to identify the steady rise in age-adjusted ischemic stroke risk from the late 1950s to the early 1990s.

January 16, 2023

Investigations

Pa. Turnpike defrauded of $1 million by alleged scheme to sell E-ZPass transponders linked to fake accounts

by Michael Tanenbaum

Two people are charged with defrauding the Pennsylvania Turnpike of $1 million with a scheme involving E-ZPass transponders linked to fake personal and credit card information, federal prosecutors said. Duvany Zambrano, 43, of Hamilton, New Jersey, and Sergio Jara, 37, of Allentown, allegedly began the scheme in 2018.

January 13, 2023

Food & Drink

New Louisiana Hot Sauce bottle features Eagles star Jalen Hurts

by Michael Tanenbaum

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has partnered with Louisiana Hot Sauce on a limited-edition, signature bottle. A portion of the proceeds benefit OneMindSet Foundation, an organization established by former University of Oklahoma teammate Chanse Sylvie. Hurts previously professed his love of the brand to GQ, saying people in his native Houston put the sauce on everything.

January 13, 2023

Investigations

Burglars stole $60,000 worth of equipment from East Falls construction site, police say

by Michael Tanenbaum

Two men are wanted for stealing $60,000 worth of equipment and material from a construction site at 4300 Ridge Ave. on New Year's Eve, Philadelphia police said. The suspects were captured on surveillance video from the construction site and from neighboring businesses. Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to contact Northwest Detectives.

January 13, 2023

Investigations

'Boy in the Box' gets new gravestone after breakthrough in Philly cold case

by Michael Tanenbaum

Joseph Augustus Zarelli, long known as the "Boy in the Box" and "America's Unknown Child," received a new headstone at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Northwest Philadelphia on Friday, marking what would have been the slain boy's 70th birthday. Zarelli's body was found in a cardboard carton in a Fox Chase field in 1957, when he was 4 years old. His identity remained unknown until last month, when police revealed the findings of a new DNA analysis. The case remains unsolved, but the investigation is still active.

January 13, 2023

Lottery

$5 million-winning scratch-off lottery ticket sold at 7-Eleven in South Philly

by Michael Tanenbaum

A Pennsylvania Lottery scratch-off ticket worth $5 million was recently sold at the 7-Eleven convenience store at at 2301 West Passyunk Ave in South Philadelphia, officials said. The 7-Eleven will get a $10,000 bonus for the sale of the winning ticket. The prize is one of the largest among Pennsylvania Lottery winners in Philadelphia in recent memory.

January 12, 2023

Development

34-story high-rise apartment building planned in University City

by Michael Tanenbaum

Landmark Properties will construct a 34-story residential tower in University City at 3615 Chestnut St. near the campuses of the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. The Mark will have 363 fully furnished residential units and a rooftop amenity area. The building is expected to welcome its first residents in the fall of 2026.