Michaela Althouse

Michaela Althouse is a staff writer for PhillyVoice with interests in climate, technology, education and politics. She’s previously written for Technical.ly, Washingtonian Magazine, Philadelphia Magazine, New Project Media and Metro Eireann. She is a Bucks County native who enjoys gardening, exploring Philly and finding the city’s best coffee.

michaela@phillyvoice.com

July 7, 2025

Courts

Trial begins for Bucks County man accused of shooting and beheading his father

by Michaela Althouse

The trial for Justin Mohn, 33, began Monday in Bucks County. The Levittown resident has been accused of shooting his father and beheading his corpse.

July 7, 2025

Arts & Culture

Magic Gardens Studio to hold joint tour with art spaces of Dina and John Wind

by Michaela Althouse

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens and the Dina Wind Foundation are teaming up for joint tours of the Magic Gardens Studio on Watkins Street and the workspaces of Dina Wind and her son, John. Tours take on the second Tuesday of each month this summer.

July 4, 2025

Recreation

Philly Neurodivergent Meetup provides a judgment-free space to make friends

by Michaela Althouse

On the second Sunday of every month, neurodivergent Philadelphians hold a monthly meetup group in Norris Square. Participants say they feel like they can be themselves and its helped them make friends.

July 3, 2025

Movies

A look at the Milton Hershey biopic, which just finished filming in Pa.

by Michaela Althouse

Filming for the Milton Hershey biopic, 'Hershey,' just wrapped in a number of Pennsylvania towns. Creators released the first images for the movie, which is set to be released in 2026.

July 2, 2025

History

Philly's history of city worker strikes included Molotov cocktails, suburban weddings and 45,000 tons of garbage

by Michaela Althouse

Members of District Council 33, Philly's largest union, went on strike Tuesday for the first time since 1986. Here's a nearly 90-year history of stoppages by city workers.

July 2, 2025

Courts

Bryan Kohberger, the Pa. man charged in University of Idaho stabbings, pleads guilty

by Michaela Althouse

Bryan Kohberger, 30, the Pennsylvania native accused of stabbing to death four University of Idaho students in November 2022, accepted a deal to plead guilty to avoid the death penalty. Kohberger instead will spend his life in prison.

July 1, 2025

Transportation

5 SEPTA trolley lines to halt Center City service for a month due to tunnel work

by Michaela Althouse

SEPTA trolley routes T1 to T5 will not offer service to and from Center City from July 11 to Aug. 11 to allow crews to conduct tunnel work. The transit authority's annual Trolley Tunnel Blitz is lasting for a month this year because it plans to skip it next year, when Philly hosts the FIFA World Cup and other big events.

July 1, 2025

Government

Thousands of Philly workers are on strike, disrupting trash collection and other city services

by Michaela Althouse

AFSCME District Council 33, Philadelphia's largest union of blue-collar workers, went on strike Tuesday, disrupting trash collection and other city services. Residents are being asked to haul their trash to drop-off sites. Rec centers are closing early and some pools have shut down. Some city health services are impacted, as are 911 dispatch times.

June 30, 2025

Investigations

Philadelphia school district safety officer injured in road rage shooting on Columbus Boulevard

by Michaela Althouse

A safety officer for the School District of Philadelphia is in critical but stable condition after he was shot during a road rage incident early Sunday morning. The man was shot multiple times on Columbus Boulevard after a driver flagged him down to report a road rage incident on Interstate 95 and someone in a third vehicle opened fire.

June 30, 2025

Jobs

Potential city workers strike could disrupt services ahead of Philly's Fourth of July festivities

by Michaela Althouse

Some 9,000 city workers are threatening to strike Tuesday — three days before Philadelphia's Fourth of July celebrations. A work stoppage by AFSCME District 33 would curtail trash collection, shut down city health centers and impact the airport, among other disruptions.