WHYY News

Susan Stewart was elected mayor of Rehoboth Beach by a wide margin, making her the first openly gay mayor and the resort town's first female leader in decades. During her campaign, she focused on preserving the physical charm and character of Rehoboth Beach amid expanding growth and tourism. Stewart also previously served on the city’s Planning Commission and various task forces.

Deshawn Spears sought help at the Rescue Mission of Trenton after struggling with substance abuse and living on the streets for years. Barrett Young, CEO of the organization, stated that the mission provides holistic support to those facing homelessness, substance abuse disorders, or mental health challenges. Upon entering the facility, individuals are immediately offered essential resources like food and a place to stay.

The Georgetown Town Council voted to start the repeal process for a cottage housing ordinance that was initially adopted last December. This action follows opposition from residents, who argue the zoning regulations are too dense and do not reflect the character of the community. Furthermore, new state law (Senate Bill 23) requires municipalities to incorporate affordable housing plans into their comprehensive plans.

Upper Darby School District lacked technology before the pandemic, but Congress allocated $13.2 billion through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) to help districts mitigate COVID-19 impacts. This funding allowed Upper Darby to provide every student with a laptop or Chromebook, aiding in educational continuity.

The episode explores various topics including how weight loss surgery may treat childhood obesity and why the GLP-1 drug might influence restaurants to offer smaller portions. Additionally, it covers climate-friendly building materials researched by Penn researchers and reports on the unearthing of America's botanical roots as part of WHYY News’ America 250 coverage.

The Free Library of Philadelphia hosted “Avoiding AI: A Hands-on Workshop” as part of its Critical AI Literacy series to teach residents how to protect their privacy by disabling unwanted AI features. Librarians noted that the pervasive appearance of AI across different apps and websites is causing public confusion, making critical literacy skills vital for understanding these technologies. The workshops focus on practical skills, helping people understand what AI tools can and cannot do.

Richard Whiteford expressed concern over extremely high decibel levels, reporting readings of 110.2 dBs from a movie theater near West Chester, PA. Audiologist Frank Wartinger advised that while movie theater volume is generally safe in most cases, consistent exposure to harmful sound levels can lead to noise-induced hearing loss, which he noted is one of the most preventable public health concerns.

In Philadelphia, roughly one-third of adults and one-fifth of children are obese, prompting doctors and pediatricians to address nutrition and weight management with patients. Dr. Elana McDonald and Dr. Samantha Flanagan emphasize nonjudgmental, goal-focused conversations to combat obesity while avoiding past negative healthcare experiences tied to weight stigma.

The Source Episode 4 explores New Jersey’s Pinelands fire towers used for wildfire detection, highlights the annual 1,100 wildfires, and covers stories on ADHD medication shortages, the British Army in Philadelphia in 1778, traditional dance’s impact on immigrant children, and a Yiddish renaissance in Philly. Contributors include WHYY News staff members Susan Phillips, Alan Yu, Peter Crimmins, Emily Neil, Emma Lee, and host Kenny Cooper.

Pennsylvania officials have implemented a quarantine to prevent the New World screwworm fly, a flesh-eating parasite attacking livestock, from entering the state. The fly, which reemerged in the U.S. after being eradicated, has caused 42 cases since June 3, primarily in Texas and New Mexico. Dr. Erin Luley, Pennsylvania assistant state veterinarian, emphasized the potential devastation to livestock industries and the need for proactive measures.

Pennsylvania schools exhibit stark contrasts in technology access, with some investing in cutting-edge tools while others struggle with aging laptops. WHYY News investigates whether this disparity is creating an education gap by examining schools across rural and suburban areas of the state.

Artificial intelligence is transforming Pennsylvania's classrooms as school districts adopt AI technology. WHYY News explores how educators are preparing students for a future dominated by AI.

Pennsylvania lawmakers are advocating for a statewide school cellphone ban, claiming phones hinder learning. WHYY News examines schools that have implemented such bans to assess their impact on student engagement and academic focus.

Two Democratic state senators, Nikil Saval and Katie Muth, voted against Pennsylvania's bipartisan $50.8 billion state budget, criticizing it for avoiding major issues like rising energy costs, affordable housing, and public transit funding. The budget passed with bipartisan support, but the senators argued it deferred critical policy challenges, particularly in transportation and housing.

Philadelphia nurses and researchers are developing a tool called Vasowatch to more accurately predict postpartum hemorrhage by tracking heart rate during contractions, addressing gaps in current risk assessments that often misclassify women as low risk. The tool aims to improve maternal health outcomes by identifying myometrial fatigue, a precursor to excessive bleeding after childbirth.

Former state Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen, a trailblazing legislator who represented North Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania Senate, has died at 79. Politicians and community leaders praised her advocacy for underserved neighborhoods and her work on issues like food insecurity, healthcare, and voting rights.

Delaware lawmakers have passed a law requiring disclosure of all travel expenses of $250 or more paid by third parties, addressing prior gaps in reporting free trips to locations like Taiwan and Israel. The change aims to eliminate ambiguity in existing rules, following media reports that highlighted unreported travel by officials since 2010.

WHYY News launches 'The Source,' a local news podcast featuring audio reporting from teams like Billy Penn, PlanPhilly, WHYY News Climate Desk, and The Pulse. Each episode ends with a notable Billy Penn-ism and is available on all podcast platforms.

Philadelphia television station WPVI-TV (6abc) is urging viewers to submit comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) amid an early license review, claiming the agency is threatening to take the station off the air. The station provided a link to an FCC comment form, with a deadline of July 29th, as part of a proceeding involving ABC’s eight owned-and-operated stations.

Philadelphia experienced its third-warmest spring on record with an average temperature of 57.8°F from March to May. Forecasters predict a hotter-than-normal summer due to a strong El Niño and long-term warming trends. Since 1970, Philadelphia's spring and summer temperatures have risen by approximately 3°F.

A controversy erupted in a Philadelphia Democratic Party ward election after Councilmember Cindy Bass declared herself the winner following a voice vote, which opponents claim was inconclusive. Opponent Octavius Price provided a video showing the disputed vote, with attendees demanding a roll call that Bass refused to conduct.

Voters in New Jersey are casting ballots in the 2026 primary election, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Key races include the U.S. Senate and congressional districts 2nd, 4th, and 12th, as covered by WHYY News.

Voters in New Jersey are casting ballots in the 2026 primary election on Tuesday, with WHYY News covering races for the U.S. Senate and House. Residents can use their ZIP code to identify their congressional district, and live results will be provided by WHYY News as polls close at 8 p.m.