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.
December 2, 2022
Business
Comcast customers' cable and internet bills poised to increase. Here's why
Comcast's cable TV and internet customers will see a national average increase of 3.8% on their bills beginning in December 2022 and heading into 2023. Most of the price changes come from rising TV broadcast and regional sports network fees. In the Philadelphia market, the TV broadcast fee will increase approximately 11.2% from $19.15 to $21.30 per month. The regional sports network fee in Philadelphia will climb 65 cents from $12.70 to $13.35, an increase of just over 5%. The monthly cost to rent a modem will increase by $1, from $14 to $15.December 2, 2022
Development
Watch the implosion of South Jersey's coal-fired Logan Generating Plant
The former Logan Generating Plant, one of New Jersey's last two coal-fired power stations, was demolished Friday morning in Swedesboro after nearly 30 years of operation at the site overlooking the Delaware River in Gloucester County. The plant was built in 1994 and shut down in the spring, along with the Chambers Cogeneration Plant in Carney's Point. New Jersey has made an aggressive push to transition to clean energy sources, including an ambitious wind energy plan off The Atlantic coast.December 2, 2022
Investigations
Suspect dead in Delaware after long police chase and hail of gunfire
An armed suspect has died following a lengthy police chase in Delaware that began Friday morning in Newport, New Castle County, and ended on I-95 South in the area of Newark, near Route 896, Delaware State Police said. The suspect exchanged gunfire with police at multiple locations and carjacked two drivers during the pursuit. The suspect's name has not been released.December 1, 2022
Investigations
Philly woman among four killed in wrong-way crash on I-495 North in Delaware
A 41-year-old Philadelphia woman was among four people killed in a head-on crash Wednesday night on Interstate 495 near New Castle in Delaware County. A 48-year-old man from Elkton, Maryland was driving his Ford F-150 pickup truck the wrong way in the northbound lanes when he collided with a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. Both drivers and two passengers in the Toyota were killed in the collision, which remains under investigation with Delaware State Police.December 1, 2022
Technology
As last pay phones disappear in Philly, new project envisions a free network of cloud-based kiosks to make calls
Public pay phones have dwindled in the United States from more than 2.6 million in 1995 to fewer than 100,000 remaining in the country. A subculture of pay phone enthusiasts are looking to modernize these once-essential public assets in several cities, including Philadelphia, where software engineer Mike Dank is developing a VoIP-based project called PhilTel. Dank will debut his first free pay phone at Iffy Books on December 17.November 30, 2022
Development
Historic bank building in Ocean City could be turned into luxury hotel
ICONA resorts reportedly has offered $6.5 million to acquire the historic bank building at 801 Asbury Ave. in Ocean City, New Jersey. The goal would be to renovate the property into a luxury hotel with a ground floor restaurant and retail space. The building's current owner is in bankruptcy, meaning the approval of a sale must go through bankruptcy court. Ocean City also may be interested in submitting an offer to acquire the property.November 30, 2022
Crime
Repeat DUI offenders in Pa. now face tougher penalties under law honoring Delco woman killed by drunk driver
Repeat DUI offenders in Pennsylvania now face stricter penalties and sentencing guidelines. Deana's Law, signed by Gov. Tom Wolf in July, took effect, Monday, Nov. 28. The honors Deana DeRosa Eckman, a 45-year-old Delaware County woman who was killed by a drunk driver on Feb. 16, 2019 in Upper Chichester. It requires consecutive sentencing for certain repeat DUI offenders, including those who refuse a breath or chemical test and those with a BAC twice the legal limit of .08 or higher. People with three or more prior DUI offenses will face a second-degree felony charge instead of a third-degree felony.November 30, 2022
Investigations
Woman's decapitated body found inside Northeast Philly home, police say
A woman was found decapitated on the kitchen floor of a home in the Lawndale neighborhood of Northeast Philly on Tuesday, leading to the arrest of 34-year-old Ahmad Shareef. The 41-year-old woman was identified as Leila Al Raheel. Shareef is charged with homicide, abuse of corpse and related offenses.November 29, 2022
Courts
Driver gets prison in wrong-way crash that killed U.S. Army vet in Bucks County
Adrienne Breslin, 46, of Upper Southampton, was sentenced to two to five years in state prison after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide and related charges stemming from a March 2021 crash in Lower Southampton that killed U.S. Army veteran and Korean War survivor Irwin Linder, 87. Breslin also pleaded guilty in two unrelated DUI cases that came in the months after the wrong-way crash along the 300 block of County Line Road.November 29, 2022
Politics
Mehmet Oz doubtful to get his TV show back after losing U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania
Dr. Mehmet Oz lost Pennsylvania's race for U.S. Senate in the 2022 midterm election to Democrat John Fetterman, ending his first run at political office. In the aftermath, Oz appears to be struggling to regain his footing and will have a difficult time reviving "The Dr. Oz Show," the syndicated daytime series that propelled him into public view over the course of 13 seasons.Just In
- Joel Embiid questionable for Sixers-Wizards on Wednesday; Kelly Oubre Jr., Trendon Watford questionable to return
- At Trump's directive, CDC lowers amount of recommended vaccines for children
- The Trump Store in Bensalem to close after six years
- The Philly region's blood supply dropped sharply at the holidays; here's how to donate
- World Cup tickets are in high demand, but Verizon has a giveaway Friday
- My dad is gone, I'll just keep swinging
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