Good morning, Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Eagles and the Eagles Autism Foundation will host the 2025 Eagles Autism Challenge tomorrow featuring a one-day bike ride and family 5K run/walk on a 3.3-mile route around the Philly sports complex and Navy Yard before finishing at Lincoln Financial Field.

Funds raised will support research for local hospitals and universities.

From May 14 through May 18, the area hosts many events including the HBCU Festival at the Mann, the musical Rent at Arden Theatre Company, and a live show by The Hooters at City Winery.

Outdoor and indoor festivals — covering food, art, music, and community pride in places like New Hope and Collingswood — offer diverse ways for locals to enjoy the weekend even if rain is forecast.

A prominent Muslim teacher from Northeast High School filed a federal lawsuit against the Philadelphia School District claiming her free speech rights were violated after she was placed on leave in September 2024 following an antisemitism investigation over her support for 'Free Palestine' buttons. Her attorney said the disciplinary action was meant to silence her and that the district’s repeated inaction on past complaints helped create a hostile work environment (a textbook First Amendment violation).

Philadelphia Zoo announced that its oldest Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises, Mommy and Abrazzo, welcomed three new male hatchlings that expand their family to nine after four female hatchlings named after the Golden Girls hatched earlier this year + the zoo said all the hatchlings will remain in Philadelphia for at least five years while nine eggs laid in January are developing in incubators for more arrivals soon.

Gov. John Shapiro announced a proposal on May 15 at the closed Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Chester, Delaware County to reform private equity practices that hurt local hospitals—his Health System Protection Act would ban sale-leaseback deals and help protect remaining hospitals like Mercy Fitzgerald and Riddle. This move follows hospital closures that left thousands without emergency care or jobs in the area.

Starting Saturday, trail users will cross a new cable-stayed pedestrian-only bridge that connects the Schuylkill Banks near Center City to the Grays Ferry Crescent trail.

The $48 million Christian to Crescent Trail Connector spans 2,800 feet including a 650-foot bridge with lighting and benches—built by the Philadelphia Department of Streets and the Schuylkill River Development Corp—to complete a long-missing section of the Schuylkill River Trail.

Philadelphia remained the nation’s sixth-largest city as it gained about 10,500 residents between July 2023 and July 2024 + its 0.7% growth trailed San Antonio’s nearly 24,000 increase that narrowed the population gap.

After polls close at 8 p.m. on May 20, Pennsylvania voters will choose candidates for key races such as Pittsburgh mayor and Philadelphia district attorney — results will be updated as votes are counted — with these outcomes determining who advances to the Nov.

4 general election.

A baby in Clifton Heights who was born with a rare genetic disease is thriving after receiving an experimental gene editing treatment using CRISPR base editing at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine.

Researchers say his improvement may lead to personalized therapies for other rare conditions while his long-term progress is still being monitored.

After Monday night's NBA Draft Lottery, the Sixers kept their top-six picks protected and moved into the top three behind Dallas and San Antonio—securing the third pick that offers fresh options for improving the team.

The season was marred by injuries to key players like Embiid and Maxey, and the front office now faces choices to draft a young core or trade for a promising star.