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

October 9, 2024

Senior Health

Baby boomers are living longer than previous generations, but they have more health problems

by Michaela Althouse

Baby boomers are more likely to have chronic health problems like diabetes, obesity, cancer and heart disease than previous generations did at the same age. The study comes as Medicare costs are rising as more baby boomers hit retirement age.

October 9, 2024

Prisons

Pa. has 41,282 residents who can't vote in November because they're imprisoned for felonies

by Michaela Althouse

In Pennsylvania, there are 41,282 residents in jail or prison who can't cast a ballot in the upcoming election because of a felony conviction, according to a report released Thursday from the Sentencing Project. Authors of the report are hoping the release of national data sheds light on the disenfranchisement of incarcerated people.

October 8, 2024

Investigations

Cyberattack on American Water prompts the Camden-based utility to pause billing

by Michaela Althouse

American Water, the Camden-based utility, has paused billing while it responds to a cyberattack it suffered Thursday. The company took its customer portal offline and is cooperating with law enforcement officers and third-party professional investigating the breach.

October 7, 2024

Investigations

Darrah School Apartments building in Francisville partially collapses

by Michaela Althouse

The Darrah School Apartments building at 718 N. 17th St. in Philadelphia partially collapsed Sunday night, authorities said. No one was injured but several cars were damaged by falling bricks. The cause of the partial collapse has not been determined.

October 7, 2024

History

Gloria Dei Church creates app so visitors can take self-guided tours of its nearly 350-year-old cemetery

by Michaela Althouse

Gloria Dei Episcopal Church created an app with self-guided tours to help visitors find about a thousand people who are buried on its grounds. The program includes maps, photos and information about the gravesites at Old Swede's, which date back as far as 1677.

October 5, 2024

Nature

Saturday could be the best chance to see the northern lights in the Philadelphia area

by Michaela Althouse

A powerful eruption on the sun will extend the visible range of the northern lights to possibly as far south as Pennsylvania, and maybe even into the Philadelphia region. The best chance to see the colorful auroras is predicted to be Saturday night. The expanded range of the aurora borealis is due to a coronal mass ejection the occurred Thursday.

October 3, 2024

Streaming

What to stream: 'Love is Blind' D.C. season and 'Bridesmaids'

by Michaela Althouse

Looking for something to stream in October? Check out new episodes of "The Golden Bachelorette" and new seasons of "Love is Blind" and "Abbott Elementary." Plus, "Bridesmaids" comes back to Netflix.

October 2, 2024

Courts

Two former Penn State students sentenced to prison for their roles in fraternity hazing death of Timothy Piazza

by Michaela Althouse

Brendan Young and Daniel Casey, leaders of the former Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Penn State University, each were sentenced to two to four months in prison Tuesday for their roles in the 2017 death of Timothy Piazza. Piazza, 19, died after becoming intoxicated and suffering fatal injuries during a hazing event.

October 1, 2024

Investigations

Police identify suspect wanted for shooting DoorDash driver in East Mount Airy

by Michaela Althouse

A DoorDash driver was shot while making a delivery on the 1500 block of East Johnson Street in Mount Airy on Monday night, Philadelphia police say. The driver, 29, is in critical condition. No arrests have been made.

October 1, 2024

Entertainment

The Friendship Bus rolls into Philly this month to help people make connections

by Michaela Althouse

The Friendship Bus stops in Philadelphia on Oct. 15-16 to help people make new connections. Staff will provide prompts to spark conversation and participants meet new people.