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 19, 2023

Investigations

Levittown man allegedly paid off $120,000 gambling debt by stealing from his employer, prosecutors say

by Michael Tanenbaum

Brian Myslinski, a former supervisor at Radwell International, is facing criminal charges for allegedly stealing $866,000 in specialized goods from the South Jersey manufacturer and selling them independently. Myslinski, 31, of Levittown, Bucks County, allegedly used the money to cover his gambling debts and to purchase cars, Gucci and Louis Vuitton handbags and purses, and other items, Burlington County prosecutors said.

January 19, 2023

Health Stories

Eagles star Lane Johnson is learning how to block his biggest opponent, anxiety, and helping others confront it, too

by Michael Tanenbaum

Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson, who has been public about his battles with anxiety and depression, has led a series of talks aimed at reducing stigmas around mental health treatment. In November, the NFL star spoke to a group in Cherry Hill, New Jersey about his approach and the need to get help with personal challenges. Sports psychologist Joel Fish says it's important for athletes like Johnson to speak out about their mental health.

January 18, 2023

Investigations

Lower Merion police officer, who used Taser on unarmed Black woman during traffic stop, placed on desk duty

by Michael Tanenbaum

The Lower Merion Township police officer who used his Taser on an unarmed Black woman last week has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of a department investigation. The department released body camera footage of the incident Tuesday. Earlier videos taken by witnesses prompted community outrage after video surfaced of the incident, which took place in a Wawa parking lot.

January 18, 2023

Business

Campbell's to renovate, expand Camden HQ with $50 million investment

by Michael Tanenbaum

Campbell Soup Co.'s announced Wednesday that it will invest $50 million into the renovation and expansion of its headquarters in Camden, where it plans to consolidate the Snacks and Meals & Beverages divisions under one roof. The plan will result in the closure of offices in North Carolina and Connecticut, with most of those employees transitioning to New Jersey. Once completed, the redesigned campus in Camden will get about 350 new jobs, bringing the total number of employees there to 1,600. Construction is set to begin in March.

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

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 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 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 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 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.