The Pennsylvania SPCA is teaming up with No Dog Gets Left Behind (NDGLB) to host a free pet food pantry for veterans and active military personnel in celebration of Veteran’s Day 2020. The event, which will be hosted on a first come, first serve basis, will take place at the corner of 47th and Fairmount Avenue in West Philadelphia on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (or while supplies last). Check out the event flyer for more information.

While the presidential election has been the focus of most media in the last several days, here are the results for local politicians.

Overall, 709,767 ballots were cast in the Nov. 3 election in Philadelphia (62.85 percent of all registered voters), according to unofficial results provided by the Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners. 356,125 ballots were cast at the polls and 353,642 ballots were cast by mail (so far). As of this morning, mail-in ballots are still being counted in the city and it may take a few more days to finish processing them.  Continue Reading

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A prayer walk and candle-light ceremony will take place this Sunday, Nov. 8, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The event, organized by local community organizations, churches, activists, and West Philly residents, will begin and end at Malcolm X Park (51st and Pine).

The goal of the West Philly Prayer Walk is to “affirm unity over our city and country.”

“With over 400 homicides this year alone in Philadelphia, including the recent murder of Walter Wallace Jr. by Philadelphia police officers, the hearts of our residents are in a constant cycle of trauma, grief and anger,” reads the announcement from one of the event organizers, writer and activist. Ayannah Kamryn.  Continue Reading

The Philadelphia Police Department has released police bodycam video and 911 calls from last month’s fatal shooting of 27-year-old West Philadelphia resident Walter Wallace Jr. by two police officers, which prompted days of protests and civil unrest in the city.

The graphic video includes footage of the moment the police officers arrived at Wallace’s residence at 61st and Locust, Wallace exiting his house and walking outside, apparently holding a knife, the moment of the shooting and the aftermath when bystanders rushed to help Wallace. A woman can be seen trying to intervene and someone can be heard screaming “He’s mental!” before he was shot. The full video is available here.

Wallace’s family said earlier that he was going through a mental health crisis when 911 calls were made on Monday afternoon, Oct. 19, asking for help because he was reportedly assaulting his parents. The calls were placed by Wallace’s relatives and a concerned neighbor. Continue Reading

The 2020 General Election voter turnout was high in the Philadelphia area, including in West Philly. Dozens of polling places were open in West Philadelphia for in-person voting and long lines were reported shortly after 7 a.m. on Tuesday at many voting locations in the area:

We’re visiting polling sites across West/Southwest Philly all day today. First up: Mt. Olivet Church on N. 41st.

Lines were already long but we came with masks and hand sanitizer to hand out. pic.twitter.com/LNmeBGwW53

— Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (@CouncilmemberJG) November 3, 2020

Lines considerably decreased by 9 a.m. and voting went quite smoothly.  Continue Reading