Good morning, Philadelphia.

Center City District Parks and the Office District are hosting fall events that include a new interactive art installation called the Water Orchestra at Dilworth Park.

The free installation starts with a ceremony on Sept. 5 at 2 p.m.—and it runs daily until Oct. 3 while parks feature Zumba, artisan markets, and family story time.

City officials have unveiled a range of after-school programs and youth services for Philadelphia students that support both classroom learning and community engagement.

The Office of Children & Families will operate OST sites from Sept. 2nd to 12th while Parks & Recreation and the Free Library offer sports, arts, STEM and literacy programs for various age groups.

On Monday, SEPTA cut 20% of its service while Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman held a clay shoot fundraiser in his district—he missed key budget talks on mass transit funding.

Local officials said the event came at a time when many Pennsylvanians already faced transit disruptions.

A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that Pennsylvania must keep mail ballots with missing dates on the return envelope—discarding them violates the constitutional right to vote.

The decision supports an earlier ruling in Pittsburgh and comes after thousands of ballots were thrown out.

Philadelphia's SEPTA reduced service by 20% on Aug.

25, leaving 52,000 students with fewer transit options and lower attendance—raising transportation concerns for schools. Mayor Cherelle Parker is exploring proposals to restore service and city councilors are urging state lawmakers to boost transit funding—actions aimed at easing commuting challenges.

Cancer survivors and advocates rallied at People’s Plaza in Independence Mall on August 26 to urge Congress to keep funding cancer research amid proposed cuts to the NIH and NCI budgets—survivors warned that reduced funding would slow progress on life-saving trials and treatments.