It’s the Friday News Roundup. We’re talking about Gov. Josh Shapiro announcing his run for reelection against presumptive Republican nominee Stacy Garrity. Also, a man died in police custody in Mayfair and the city is cracking down on scalpers selling restaurant reservations. Plus: Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz dish on Marc Vetri’s latest cookbook and the Eagles’ playoff run.  Our Friday news roundups are powered by great local journalism:  Garrity campaign tries to walk back election denial  Josh Shapiro’s reelection campaign in Pennsylvania starts now — but 2028 looms large Pa. State Sen. Doug Mastriano won’t run for governor again in 2026, after months of teasing a potential campaign launch Philly expands outdoor dining and cracks down on ‘reservation scalpers’ ahead of expected 2026 tourism Philly is trying to crack down on reservation scalpers Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly And don’t forget—you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:  Heinz History Center The Frick PA Preferred Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

We love South Street here at City Cast Philly. Today we’re revisiting part one of our series looking at the history and influence of South Street, from the Schuylkill to the Delaware Rivers. These blocks are resilient — surviving riots, fights for human dignity, and near demolition by city planners. And these blocks are lively — art and music has kept this corridor brimming with creativity going back to the very beginning. Last September host Trenae Nuri interviewed political scientist Richardson Dilworth, journalist Dan Biddle, and Selena Austin of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to explain the street's storied past. We also use archival tape from the Philadelphia Department of Records. This episode originally aired on Sept. 8th, 2025. You can find all three-parts of the series in the podcast feed.  What’s your South Street memory? Call or text us: 215-259-8170 Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Heinz History Center The Frick PA Preferred Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Wednesday, so we’re talking politics and the peculiar Philly political practice known as  “councilmanic prerogative.” It’s an unwritten rule here in Philly that basically gives district councilmembers a lot of power. They can greenlight new developments or bring projects to a complete stop. Over in North Philly, there’s tension between Councilmember Jeffrey “Jay” Young, Jr. and some community members over his use of councilmanic prerogative to block the long-planned reconstruction of the Cecil B. Moore Library. Daniel Pearson, columnist at The Philadelphia Inquirer, joins us to discuss both the library issue and this nuance in city politics.  Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:  PA Preferred Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

What can we expect for Philly in 2026? Will council members end their honeymoon with the mayor? Where will an AI data center open? And how many cheesesteak shops will open? Host Trenae Nuri is joined by the City Cast Philly team, executive producer Matt Katz, senior producer Abby Fritz, and newsletter editor Siani Colón to drop our predictions for politics, food, and city life.   Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: PA Preferred  Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

Nobody understands a city’s pulse quite like a City Cast host — and that makes them the best predictors for 2026’s biggest local stories. City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri joins CEO David Plotz and the other 12 hosts from across the network to talk about the big changes coming to our cities, from political shifts to data centers. Get more Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: ⁠Hey Philly⁠ Call or text us: ⁠215-259-8170⁠ We’re also on Instagram: ⁠@citycastphilly⁠ Learn more about the sponsors of this January 5th episode: ⁠PA Preferred⁠ Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: ⁠citycast.fm/advertise⁠

Happy New Year! We’re excited to welcome 2026 as the city begins to light up with so many big events. In this episode, you’ll hear our best tips for enjoying January, plus where to swing in a heated golf bay, eat a cheap "girl dinner," and learn about Philly's long list of firsts. And if you love Siani’s idea for swapping out your clothes, don’t miss our recent episode about the best thrift stores in Philly. For even more tips on how to make the most of January in Philly, check out our newsletter's take on what to do this month. If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Philly community. City Cast Philly is made possible by our awesome sponsors, like Simply Eloped. And we’re also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more about how to become a member of City Cast Philly. Get more Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

In the mood for dessert? We’ve got the best spots for cinnamon rolls, cannolis, cookies, cakes, and more. Join host Trenae Nuri in conversation with food journalists for The Infatuation Philadelphia, Candis McLean and Alison Kessler.  Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Simply Eloped Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

Planning a trip to Philly or have guests visiting from out of town? Look no further for recommendations than this episode as the City Cast Philly team (host Trenae Nuri, producer Abby Fritz, newsletter editor Siani Colón, and executive producer Matt Katz) give nothing but the best recommendations for must-do experiences, restaurants, and hidden gems in the city. What do you recommend visitors see and eat in Philly? Call or text us: 215-259-8170 To listen to our series on South Street that Trenae mentioned, our four episodes are here, here, here, and here. And here is our show on Carpenters’ Hall. Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Simply Eloped Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

What happened to burgers in this town? You used to be able to get a great burger for $10,  maybe $15. Now we’ve got $25-plus burgers everywhere. So host Trenae Nuri talks with food contributor Alisha Miranda about 11 spots in Philly where we can still find great burgers (and fries, of course) for $20 or less.   Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Simply Eloped  Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

Philly has a big 2026 with major events such as the FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star Game, and celebrations for America’s semiquincentennial. And big events mean more tourists coming through Philly, especially through our airport. But Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) was just ranked dead last for the fifth year in a row in customer satisfaction. Host Trenae Nuri chats with Siani Colon, our newsletter editor, about whether that ranking rings true to Philadelphians and what PHL is doing to fix itself up before a big year of tourism.  Your thoughts on PHL? Call or text us: 215-259-8170 Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Simply Eloped   Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

It’s the Friday News Roundup! We’re talking about wrapping up 2025 with the fewest homicides in decades. There’s a new drug on our streets that’s overwhelming our hospitals. And we’re going to laugh off some of the biggest stories of the year. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz also dish about their favorite City Cast episodes of 2025.  Our Friday news roundups are powered by great local journalism:  A Powerful New Drug Is Creating a ‘Withdrawal Crisis’ in Philadelphia Celebrating Progress and Shaping Philadelphia’s Future 10-year-old boy burned in Philadelphia plane crash returns home: "It's a miracle" A hidden alley could become a key walking path in Old City for 2026 Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly And don’t forget—you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Fitler Club Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

Hotels aren’t just a place for your friends and family to stay during the holidays. In Philly they’re also places to start toasting the new year, right now. Back in September host Trenae Nuri sat down with City Cast Philly food contributor Alisha Miranda to talk about the best hotel bars in our city.  Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Fitler Club Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

Last week we saw a political fight erupt over Mayor Cherelle Parker’s signature proposal — the H.O.M.E. initiative, a $2 billion plan to create and preserve 30,000 units of housing. In a 16-1 vote, City Council amended the first phase of the mayor’s plan in order to lower the income thresholds for Philly renters and homeowners who would benefit from this, making more lower-income Philadelphians eligible for government aid to fix up their homes and make houses handicap accessible. But the mayor was not happy with Council changing her plan. She wants to prioritize Philadelphians with somewhat higher incomes in the first year of her housing initiative. On today’s show host Trenae Nuri talks with Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who helped to lead the charge to change the mayor’s plan, about why she thinks City Council’s amendment was a victory for Philly. And then we get some analysis about what’s really going on in City Hall from our politics contributor, Lauren Vidas.   Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. If you enjoyed this interview with Janessa White, the Director & General Manager of Simply Eloped, learn more here.  Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Fitler Club Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

Philadelphia makes beautiful music. From intimate shows at Time and MilkBoy to large crowds at The Fillmore and the Met, Philly’s live music scene is unmatched. This past year, soul music in Philly really stood out. Host Trenae Nuri sits down with Toya Haynes, editor of Philly Soul Now, who has curated the ultimate playlist of the best Philly soul music of 2025. They talk about the artists defining the sound right now, the venues shaping the culture, and why everyone’s band has someone from Philly. Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Fitler Club Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

As the year draws to a close, our food contributor Alisha Miranda joins us to break down the year that was in restaurants and bars with host Trenae Nuri. What were the trends we observed? What were the highlights from 2025? What are we happy to leave behind (looking at you, QR-coded menus)?  Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Fitler Club Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST  Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz talk about how the mayor and council are throwing punches over the city’s big plan to create and fix 30,000 units of housing, why youth football players from Philly got arrested down in Florida, and where the Rocky statue is moving.   Our Friday news roundups are powered by great local journalism:  8 members of Philly youth football team face felony charges in Florida Philly coach speaks out after teen players arrested in Florida for stealing Philly Council votes against Mayor Parker’s vision for her signature housing plan, signaling a win for progressives Does the Rocky statue really get twice as many visitors as the Liberty Bell? Yes, but ...  Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly And don’t forget—you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Simply Eloped Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST  Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

Happy holidays! Hanukkah starts Sunday night and Christmas is just around the bend, so we’ve got the Phillyiest gift guide for you. But the stakes are high because the City Cast Philly team is doing our own version of a white elephant gift exchange. Listen to get gift ideas and to find out what host Trenae Nuri, executive producer Matt Katz, producer Abby Fritz, and newsletter editor Siani Colón win (or don’t win). Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Simply Eloped Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

State Senator Vincent Hughes, representing Philadelphia in the legislature since the mid-1980s, joins host Trenae Nuri for our weekly Wednesday politics show to talk about his bill to ban students from using phones in schools (⁠which advanced yesterday to a vote in the senate⁠), a new law to prevent discrimination based on hair (which was signed into law last month), and the reasons why SEPTA still needs more money (despite the recent bailouts) .  Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: ⁠Hey Philly⁠ Call or text us: ⁠215-259-8170⁠ We’re also on Instagram: ⁠@citycastphilly⁠ You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at ⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: ⁠Simply Eloped⁠ ⁠Babbel⁠ - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST ⁠Aura Frames⁠ - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: ⁠citycast.fm/advertise

In six months the world’s eyes will be on us. Philly is hosting six matches of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, the most-watched sporting event in the world. And we just found out which countries will be playing here at Lincoln Financial Field come June. Host Trenae Nuri sits down with Meg Kane, host city executive and CEO for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, to talk about the rise of soccer in Philly and why hosting the World Cup is a game-changer for Philly.  Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: ⁠Simply Eloped⁠ ⁠Babbel⁠ - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST ⁠Aura Frames⁠ - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: ⁠citycast.fm/advertise

Bike lanes continue to be a point of controversy on our city streets. More bike lanes are popping up in our neighborhoods, but activists want a bigger citywide network for cyclists – and they want the bike lanes protected to help prevent more injuries and deaths. In the latest installment of our occasional series, “Whose Streets,” host Trenae Nuri gets the latest on biking in the city — from City Hall to Fairmount Park to the Pine/Spruce Street corridor — with Dave Talone, organizer with Philly Bike Action. Have any experiences biking in the city or sharing the road with cyclists? Call or text us: 215-259-8170 Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly We’re also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST  Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise