Good morning, Philadelphia.

Mayor Parker signed an order on Tuesday directing city agencies to draft project labor agreements (PLAs) before selecting contractors for taxpayer-funded works.

The move is supported by building trades unions and follows similar actions by previous mayors.

Pediatric surgeon Ala Stanford, who helped during the COVID crisis, is running for Congress in Philadelphia’s 3rd District with the support of retiring Rep Dwight Evans—she started a group to help people get health care and moved to Chestnut Hill to serve her neighbors.

Pennsylvania’s budget stalemate has hurt schools, social services, and local agencies, leading to layoffs and missed payments that strain many programs.

The dispute between Gov. Josh Shapiro, the House, and the Senate has forced agencies to dip into reserves as financial pressures mount—public schools in Philadelphia and beyond face deeper cuts.

The National Transportation Safety Board warned SEPTA on Wednesday about fire risks from its Silverliner IV railcars due to an outdated design and maintenance lapses—issues that caused several fires in recent months.

SEPTA said it remained confident that its 40 new mitigation measures, including targeted inspections and alarms, will allow safe service moving forward.

Tourists who visited Philadelphia on Wednesday found that the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Benjamin Franklin Museum were closed due to the government shutdown—guides struggled to update visitors while officials said Visit Philly might help if the shutdown lasts.

Visitors were encouraged to explore other local historical sites to learn about the city's past.

The Eagles opened linebacker Nakobe Dean’s practice window after his patellar tendon injury from the Wild Card win over Green Bay — he had been on the PUP list — and he was given up to 3 weeks to join the 53-man roster during his contract year.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni set historic records with three undefeated season starts and two 10-game win streaks—helping his team secure a second Super Bowl title last season and a runner-up finish in 2022.

His .722 winning percentage now ranks him among the top NFL coaches.

Today the Philadelphia Phillies are entering the playoffs as favorites—having secured the NL East title for a second straight year—and the city expects a deep run.

Manager Rob Thomson will rely on ace pitcher Cristopher Sánchez, who ended the season with a 2.50 ERA and 8.0 WAR, to lead the team in key matchups.

Philadelphia Union, the best team this season, will clinch the Supporters’ Shield if they beat NYCFC at Subaru Park this weekend.

The team needs one win out of its final two matches to secure the trophy—earning its first major honor since 2020.

Philadelphia 76ers backup center Adem Bona improved his game after playing in EuroBasket, where his performance helped Turkey win silver—teammates and head coach Nick Nurse praised his faster, more vocal play in training camp.

He will be a key contributor this season as he builds on his increased confidence.