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.
January 20, 2022
Education
Teacher who taped face mask on student acted inappropriately, North Penn says
A photo shared on social media shows a North Penn School District teacher taping a face mask onto a student's face in her classroom last week. The district called the incident "inappropriate and unacceptable" after the image circulated widely online, fueling debates about school masks mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.January 20, 2022
Investigations
Man charged with murder for allegedly clubbing woman to death at Old City office building
Jeffery Stephen, 48, of Philadelphia, allegedly beat a woman to death with an iron pipe inside an office building in Old City on Wednesday afternoon. Stepien is charged with homicide and possessing an instrument of crime. The victim has been identified as 31-year-old Samantha Maag, of Blenheim, New Jersey.January 20, 2022
Accidents
Reporter Tori Yorgey, a Montgomery County native, hit by car on live TV – but keeps reporting
Tori Yorgey, a TV news reporter and Penn State graduate from the Philadelphia area, was struck by a car Wednesday night during a live weather segment in West Virginia. Shockingly, she bounced back up moments later and declared that she was not hurt. The video of the incident went viral on social media.January 20, 2022
Media
Kevin Frandsen leaving Phillies radio broadcast to join Nationals
Kevin Frandsen is leaving the Philadelphia Phillies radio broadcast team after four seasons to join the Washington Nationals. Frandsen, a former player, spent seasons in both Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. before his retirement. The Phillies will have to hire a replacement to join long-time radio broadcaster Scott Franzke for the 2022 season.January 19, 2022
Recreation
New pedestrian bridge could be built near Forbidden Drive later this year
The popular Forbidden Drive area of Wissahickon Valley Park is on track to get a new pedestrian bridge that would connect the Valley Green Inn area to the Orange and White trails. Stream channels along the creek have undergone significant storm erosion in recent decades, limiting access to visitors along Valley Green Run. The project is led by the nonprofit Friends of the Wissahickon, which hopes to break ground in late 2022.January 19, 2022
Recreation
Philly unveils plan to restore historic Cobbs Creek Golf Course
A $65 million plan to restore the historic Cobbs Creek Golf Course in Philadelphia includes revamping its "Olde Course" into one capable of hosting PGA Tour events and adding an education and community center. Cobbs Creek opened in 1916 and was among the few courses to welcome golfers of all races and ethnicities. It closed in 2020 after falling into disrepair in recent decades.January 19, 2022
Investigations
Woman, 31, beaten and killed with pipe inside Old City office building, police say
A woman, 31, was killed inside a Philadelphia office on Wednesday by a man who hit her multiple times in the head with a pipe, police said. The attack occurred at 2:15 p.m. inside the Regus offices on the 300 block of Chestnut Street in Old City. Authorities said they have arrested the suspect and recovered the weapon he allegedly used.January 18, 2022
Investigations
Three Sharon Hill cops charged in fatal shooting of 8-year-old Fanta Bility
Three Sharon Hill police officers are charged with manslaughter and reckless endangerment in last summer's high-profile shooting incident that resulted in the death of 8-year-old Fanta Bility and injuries to three others as they left a high school football game, the Delaware District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday. The charges came after a two-month grand jury investigation that reviewed evidence from the scene of the shooting.January 18, 2022
Business
Sears to close Willow Grove Mall store, the retailer's last full-service location in Pennsylvania
The Sears at the Willow Grove Park Mall in Montgomery County will close in 2022. The location is the retailer's last remaining full-service department store in Pennsylvania The Sears in Willow Grove opened in 1987 and thrived as a shopping destination for decades. Sears filed for bankruptcy in 2018 and has seen its store numbers and workforce dwindle in the years since.January 18, 2022
Investigations
New I-95 speed cameras vandalized in Wilmington, Delaware State Police say
Delaware State Police are investigating the vandalism of two speed enforcement cameras installed along I-95 in Wilmington as part of a new program with DelDOT reduce crashes along the work zone corridor. The cameras were damaged early Sunday morning, according to investigators.Just In
- Coffee and wine bar to open in the Navy Yard in early 2026
- Report: Commanders shutting down QB Jayden Daniels for the season
- SEPTA's upgraded Wissahickon Transit Center opens in Northwest Philly
- Land Rover smashes through front door of Starbucks in Wynnewood
- 93-year-old man found stabbed to death in his North Philly home allegedly was killed by his ex-neighbor
- As NBA trade season begins, four Sixers officially become eligible to be traded
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