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

August 20, 2021

Development

Dutch Springs, the scuba diving mecca of Pennsylvania, faces murky future as warehouse project looms

by Michael Tanenbaum

Dutch Springs, a destination lake for scuba divers in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, may soon be off limits after the property was sold to a commercial real estate developer that has proposed a large-scale warehouse project at the site. A staple and regional training ground for the diving community for 40 years is headed for closure, but dedicated divers are holding out hope for a resolution that would keep the lake open.

August 19, 2021

NFL

Colts reporter calls Carson Wentz 'selfish' in fight against COVID-19

by Michael Tanenbaum

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz is recovering from surgery on his foot in hopes of making his debut in week one against the Seattle Seahawks. Indianapolis Star reporter Gregg Doyel criticized Wentz for his "selfish" decision to apparently not get a COVID-19 vaccination, setting off an ominous media cycle that's all too familiar to Philadelphia Eagles fans. Doyel wrote that he hopes to see Colts backup quarterback Jacob Eason steal Wentz's starting job.

August 19, 2021

Food & Drink

HipCityVeg plans expansion in Philly and beyond, including Port Richmond location

by Michael Tanenbaum

Vegan and vegetarian fast-casual restaurant HipCityVeg will open eight new locations across Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C. over the coming months. The first of the new stores, a ghost kitchen, will open in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia in November.

August 18, 2021

Investigations

Team USA women's fencing coach dies in Pennsylvania motorcycle crash

by Michael Tanenbaum

Team USA women's fencing coach Anthony "Buckie" Leach died at 62 years old after a motorcycle accident in Potter County, Pennsylvania on Aug. 14. The crash happened two weeks after Leach returning from leading the women's team to a fourth place finish at the Olympics in Tokyo. Leach was on a cross-country motorcycle tour.

August 18, 2021

Sixers

Sixers will have a new jersey patch sponsor next season, replacing StubHub

by Michael Tanenbaum

The Philadelphia 76ers will have new jersey advertisement patches when the team returns for the 2021-2022 season, replacing the multiyear partnership with StubHub. The Sixers announced Wednesday that their new official ticketing partner will be Ticketmaster, but the jersey patch sponsor will be for another brand that has not yet been named.

August 17, 2021

Investigations

Bucks County man allegedly netted $1 million selling stolen U.S. Open tickets, feds say

by Michael Tanenbaum

A former U.S. Golf Association employee from Perkasie allegedly arranged secret deals to sell stolen tickets to multiple U.S. Open tournaments, beginning with the one held locally at Merion Golf Club in 2013, and pocketed more than $1 million, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Robert Fryer, 39, worked in the admissions office at the USGA.m Investigators allege that including the U.S. Open at Merion, Fryer continued the schemed for seven years, until 2019.

August 17, 2021

Entertainment

John Mulaney adds extra stand-up date for October residency in Philly

by Michael Tanenbaum

Comedian John Mulaney will be in Philadelphia for a residency at the Academy of Music at the Kimmel Cultural Campus from Oct. 1 through Oct. 12. More than 30,000 tickets were sold for the first 11 dates, prompting Mulaney to extend the residency another night.

August 17, 2021

Investigations

Pennsylvania woman found safe after she was reported missing, authorities say

by Michael Tanenbaum

Sara Locricchio has been found safe after York Area Regional Police received a report that she was missing. Locricchio had last been seen in Dallastown, Pennsylvania on August 12. She was reported missing on Sunday, Aug. 15, under what York Area Regional Police had described as suspicious circumstances.

August 17, 2021

Investigations

Bucks County woman dies after being struck by car in Ocean City

by Michael Tanenbaum

Katherine Lux, 21, of New Hope, Pennsylvania, has died after she was struck by a car in Ocean City, New Jersey on Aug. 11, 2021. No charges have been filed against the driver, but Cape May County prosecutors say the crash remains under investigation.

August 16, 2021

Investigations

Giant bonuses 'shortchanged' thousands of workers in overtime pay during pandemic, U.S. Department of Labor says

by Michael Tanenbaum

Supermarket chain Giant failed to pay proper rates for overtime to more than 3,000 employees across 192 stores in Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The investigation led to the Wage and Hour Division’s recovery of $165,653 in back wages stemming from a conversion of hourly wage increases into COVID-related bonuses that were not factored in to overtime pay.