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

February 17, 2021

Closures

Retro McDonald's closes on Broad Street in South Philly

by Michael Tanenbaum

The McDonald's at the northwest corner of Broad Street and Carpenter Avenue in South Philadelphia has closed. The fast food restaurant was built in 2000 but features a retro design from 1970s. A recent wave of development has changed the Philadelphia's Hawthorne neighborhood over the last several years.

February 17, 2021

Health News

Pennsylvania admits major blunder with allocation of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

by Michael Tanenbaum

Pennsylvania officials revealed that thousands of doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine were mistakenly administered as first doses when they were supposed to held for second doses. The error, which began in January, means as many as 100,000 people will need to reschedule and delay appointments for first and second doses of the vaccine over the next few weeks.

February 17, 2021

Investigations

Philly man choked his ex-girlfriend to death in Delaware County, prosecutors say

by Michael Tanenbaum

Benjamin Boykins, 34, was charged with murder and related offenses in the November 2020 killing of Tanika Kirkpatrick in Lansdowne, Delaware County. Investigators said Kirkpatrick was Boykins' ex-girlfriend and that she had obtained an emergency protection from abuse order against Boykins just days before she was killed.

February 17, 2021

Casinos

$5 bet wins $1.1 million jackpot for New Jersey man at Tropicana Atlantic City

by Michael Tanenbaum

Frank Nagy, a regular customer at Tropicana Atlantic City, won a $1.1 million MEGA jackpot after placing just a $5 bet on a game of progressive poker at the casino. To celebrate the win, Nagy gave the dealers who were on shift a $50,000 tip.

February 16, 2021

Illness

Philly sharpens timeline for COVID-19 vaccine availability

by Michael Tanenbaum

Philadelphia may begin offering the COVID-19 vaccine to the general public beginning in June. Coronavirus case counts have fallen in recent weeks as the city's vaccine supply and delivery expand, prompting the health department to consider easing additional restrictions.

February 16, 2021

Budgets

Philly again warns of 'painful budget choices' as COVID-19 sinks fiscal outlook

by Michael Tanenbaum

As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its second year, Philadelphia faces a potential budget gap of up to $450 million for the upcoming fiscal year, with a reserve fund balance depleted to just $29 million. The city is pushing for flexible federal relief to minimize the impact of looming cuts for a second straight year.

February 16, 2021

Business

Fine Wine & Good Spirits opens new location in West Philly

by Michael Tanenbaum

Fine Wine & Good Spirits has opened a new store in West Philadelphia at 5159 Lancaster Ave. The 2,700-square-foot retail space includes about 1,550 wines and spirits. Pennsylvania Lottery sales also are offered at the new store.

February 15, 2021

Wawa

Wawa rolls out Angus burger chainwide, holds contest for year's supply

by Michael Tanenbaum

Wawa will make its new Angus burger available at its 920 convenience stores starting this week. To celebrate the menu addition, the company is holding a "Burgers for a Year" sweepstakes with a chance for one lucky customer to get a $780 Wawa gift card.

February 15, 2021

Business

Comcast's RISE program giving $1 million in grants to minority-owned businesses in Philly, Chester

by Michael Tanenbaum

Comcast RISE will award hundreds of $10,000 grants to minority-owned small businesses in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and Detroit to help them weather the impact of COVID-19. The application window for the grants runs from March 1-14. In Philadelphia and Chester, 100 businesses will receive this assistance.

February 15, 2021

Music

New Jersey lawyer sings song blasting Bruce Springsteen's DUI charges

by Michael Tanenbaum

In the wake of Bruce Springsteen's arrest for an alleged DUI incident last November, New Jersey attorney Eric Harrison wrote a song calling the charges against The Boss a "New-Jersey-sized disgrace." Springsteen was arrested at Sandy Hook after he allegedly took two shots of tequila and got on his motorcycle. He allegedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.02, just a quarter of the legal limit in New Jersey and in the federal park area, where alcohol consumption is nonetheless prohibited.