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 11, 2022
Investigations
Smoke detectors inside apartment where deadly Fairmount fire started were inoperable, Philly fire commissioner says
The 12 people who died in last week's Fairmount rowhome fire were not alerted to the flames because the smoke detectors in their unit were inoperable, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said. He also said on Tuesday that it is likely the fire started when a 5-year-old boy ignited a Christmas tree with a lighter. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health provided the names of the victims for the first time on Tuesday: Rosalee McDonald, 33; Virginia Thomas, 30; Quinsha White, 18; Quientien Tate-McDonald, 16; Destiny McDonald, 15; Shaniece Wayne, 10; Dekwan Robinson, 8; Natasha Wayne, 7; J'Kwan Robinson, 5; Janiyah Roberts, 3; Taniesha Robinson, 3; Tiffany Robinson, 2.January 10, 2022
Obituaries
South Philly native, jazz legend James Mtume dies at 76
Jazz and R&B icon James Mtume, a native of South Philadelphia, has died at the age of 76 after a long and influential career that included collaborations with Miles Davis, Don Cherry, Herbie Hancock and Duke Ellington. Together with Reggie Lucas, Mtume created a sound often described as "sohphistifunk." He's best known for the 1983 single "Juicy Fruit," which was famously sampled by the late Notorious B.I.G.January 10, 2022
Lawsuits
Penn among 16 colleges sued for alleged financial-aid collusion
A federal antitrust lawsuit accuses the University of Pennsylvania and 15 other U.S. colleges of colluding to create guidelines for financial-aid awards. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Illinois, claims the universities did not use a need-blind approach to collaborating on award calculation standards and gave preference to wealthy applicants who would not need large aid packages.January 10, 2022
Media
6ABC hires former 'Fox and Friends' host Jillian Mele
Jillian Mele, the former co-anchor of the 'Fox and Friends' morning show on Fox News, has landed back in Philadelphia with a new role as a journalist for 6ABC. Mele, who previously worked for NBC10 and NBC Sports Philadelphia, left 'Fox and Friends' late last year in order to pursue her MBA at La Salle University.January 10, 2022
TV
Fox News gives primetime slot to Philly native Jesse Watters
Fox News will debut 'Jesse Watters Primetime' during the network's 7 p.m. slot beginning Jan. 24. Watters, a Philadelphia native who has been with Fox News since 2002, will remain a co-host on the afternoon program 'The Five' but will no longer have his Saturday show 'Watters' World.'January 7, 2022
Illness
West Norriton restaurant linked to fatal hepatitis A case gets shut down, Montgomery County officials say
Health officials in Montgomery County have confirmed one death from hepatitis A and are investigating a total of 11 cases that have been linked to an outbreak at a restaurant in West Norriton. Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria has been closed until further notice as authorities continue their investigation. Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a highly transmissible virus and can vary in severity from a mild illness to a serious, life-threatening disease.January 7, 2022
Investigations
Tragic Fairmount fire may have been started by 5-year-old boy playing with lighter
A 5-year-old boy who was playing with a lighter may have started the fire that tragically killed 12 people at a rowhome in Philadelphia's Fairmount neighborhood Wednesday. An investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing with the aid of ATF and other specialists.January 7, 2022
Lifestyle
Reebok to release Eagles-themed Allen Iverson Answer IV sneakers
Reebok will release a Philadelphia Eagles-themed version of Allen Iverson's classed Answer IV sneakers, which he wore during the Sixers' 2001 season when the team reached the NBA Finals and Iverson won the league MVP award. The shoes, which will be available Jan. 21, are inspired by Iverson's outfit before Game One of the NBA Finals, when he wore a No.3 Iverson Eagles jersey and a du-rag in the tunnel.January 7, 2022
Social Media
Vintage prototype shows a Sixers uniform designed to glow under black lights
The Philadelphia 76ers explored the possibility of a new uniform design in the early 1980's, hiring a local ad agency to create a prototype for a more exciting jersey. Ivan Stiles, the designer on the project, recently shared photos of the little-known uniform proposal, a retro-look that had ultraviolet-sensitive ink meant to glow under black lights.January 6, 2022
Courts
Philly man pleads guilty in DUI crash that severely injured four Neshaminy High School girls
Shane Brolly, 24, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to DUI and related offenses in a March 2021 crash in Northampton Township that severely injured four teenage girls who attend Neshaminy High School in Bucks County. Brolly, a U.K. citizen who was driving without a license, had blood alcohol level of 0.21, more than twice the legal limit, at the time of the crash.Just In
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- Bucks County man, 51, pleads guilty to killing mother and covering her body with a pile of furniture and linens
- 'Catcher is our main focus,' says Phillies' Dave Dombrowski
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