Around 2AM yesterday, Joseph Kelly Sr. was driving along the Vine Street Expressway when he saw a homeless man in a wheelchair marooned on the median. He pulled over and crossed three lanes on foot to try to help the man across the street. As one car slowed down to let them pass, another struck that vehicle and then ran into Kelly and the other man, killing them both. A 17-year-old male knocked on the......

The Daily News takes a closer look at one of the programs that Philadelphia Safe and Sound will have to shut down, thanks to Nutter's budget cuts: the anti-truancy program. Meanwhile, the Inquirer takes a closer look at a federal lawsuit filed by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, implicating Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson, a Bush cabinet member. A profile of Phyllis Beck and Alice Beck Dubow, the first mother-daughter judges in the......

The Inquirer takes a look at the political landscape on the morning of Super Tuesday. If you're from New Jersey or Delaware, remember to vote! As long as you've done your research, and you care at all. If neither of those things are true then please, don't vote. A federal lawsuit filed in December says that President Bush's housing czar, Alphonso Jackson, pressured the Philadelphia Housing Authority to transfer land worth $2 million to Kenny......

A proposed set of rules now circulating among City Council members would restore the City Council President's authority to make decisions without the approval of Council's majority leader, an authority the president hasn't had for the last four years. "The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will announce this afternoon how much Philadelphia and other cities will get in grants to help the homeless." The grants are awarded on a competitive basis,......

The Pennsylvania Turnpike has been closed in both directions between the Philadelphia and Willow Grove interchanges, and is likely to stay closed most of the morning, due to a fiery five-car accident earlier today involving a tractor trailer and a pickup truck. Thankfully, as of this writing, no fatalities have been reported. The Fort Dix suspects are asking to be moved Special Housing Unit at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia due to the fact......

LAist began the month with a new food series exploring the popular and unknown late night eats around town. If a Top Chef winner opened up a late night spot in Los Angeles, denizens would flock it, yet the LA Times and other media might be wary. Turning to sports, the Dodger season was quite memorable in the way that it imploded and the LA County Sheriff's Department made some games of their own......

With unseasonable weather descending upon much of North America, schools getting ready to reconvene, and sports seasons getting exciting, it's a busy time of year for us here in the Ist-A-Verse. Luckily, even with all the things we have to do, we still managed to get together to let you know what we've all been up to. After cooling down from a hot weekend of many badass Sunset Junction Street Fair photo dispatches, LAist asked......

Chicagoist is gearing up for this weekend's annual Air & Water Show along the lakefront. In what's becoming an annual tradition around there, staff member Todd McClamroch even got to fly with one of the participants. Chicagoist's decidedly opinionated readership was also appalled that one of their staffers found a popular local brewpub to be a great place to bring a kid. They also think that an unlikely activist for immigration rights should just take......

Local homeowners struggling with mortgage payments might want to attend the Federal Housing Administration mortgage clinic being held from 10AM to 2PM tomorrow in the Temple University Student Center at 1755 N. 13th St. Call 1-800-225-5342 to register (registration is not required, but is encouraged). A shoot-out at a basketball game at the Athletic Recreation Center at 26th and Jefferson Streets in North Philadelphia left one young man dead and three others wounded, including the......

Londonist are starting to think their city is getting just a little bit too expensive, when even Christian Slater can't afford to go out there. And there's no escaping, as local singer Lily Allen discovered when she was barred entry to the US. The British mapping agency caused further bad karma, by blocking a 3-D representation of London in Google Earth. But the smiles returned to Londonist's faces as they interviewed Baroness von Reichardt,......

Hallelujah. Holla back, hipsters. It's the triumphant return of the Craigslist round-up. On a weekly basis, we will be brining you the Craigslist craziness like hot butter on your breakfast toast (or margarine, for the lactose intolerant). Like you, our amazement never ceases when we're scouring CL in an (ongoing) effort to delay the inevitable work that rests in front of us. So, pull down your plastic-framed spectacles, kick up your Chuck Taylor-clad toes, and......

With the constant development in the Rittenhouse commercial district over the past few years, the fact that there's a block lingering in the area that doesn't bolster multiple shops and restaurants is simultaneously mind boggling and and comforting. And, yet, if you wander down Sansom, between 19th and 20th, that's just what you'll find. Heading west, on the north side of the street, you'll first come upon Oh! Shea's Pub, followed by a side entrance......

We're guessing most of you are hungover from St. Patrick's Day. We are too. But still, we're going to muddle on through our green haze and give you (drum roll please...) this Week In -ists. We start with SFist which broke the -ist record for comments with nearly 500 comments on a post about our Mayor's girlfriend. She responded back on charges that she's not a "girl's girl" and, whoo boy-- the floodgates? They......

Austinist gets arty with an interactive guide to SXSW, loved some local art galleries and a new art exhibit and lamented the possible loss of "Friday Night Lights" production to New Mexico. Bostonist was happy they finally found an Anna Nicole Smith connection to their fair city and that an Apple Store was opening up. They were less happy that new rules have been established limiting underage shows and that their Governor is spending......

Local officials are saying that Bush's proposed budget is bad news for Philly, as it would mean decreased funding for community-development block grants, local law enforcement, housing, and healthcare. Two Philly Dems, State Reps. Dwight Evans and James R. Roebuck Jr., are proposing a $14 million initiative to get teachers into urban and rural districts in PA and keep them there. Well, if there was favoritism being shown to Andy Reid's kids it seems to......

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is trying to get more recruits to area Catholic schools via a new $500,000 marketing campaign. Maybe they should try the "Buddy Christ?" Meanwhile, a lot of work needs to be done, and a lot of money needs to be raised, if they're going to get the Sister Clara Muhammad School and the Philadelphia Masjid at 47th Street back up and running again. Apparently, part of Valley Forge is an......

As the world holds its breath, teetering precariously on the cusp of the Super Bowl (well, at least in America), the wheels of the -ists keep on turning. Austinist was in a musical frame of mind as they listened to the new Shins album, updated the SXSW band listings and got called "punk rock" for their efforts by MTV. And an ice storm swept through the area. Bostonist said goodbye to John Kerry's plans......

In this new series of posts, Phillyist will showcase opportunities to volunteer in this fine city of ours, as well as give kudos to some of the many organizations throughout the region dedicated to making that whole "brotherly love" gig a reality. Do you like to bake? Phillyist sure does. While we admit that we sometimes do the brownies out of a box, the cookies are always homemade. Alas, though we love the process......

That ramp at the Linc was swaying again, and this time the movement was even caught on tape. But engineers still insist the ramp is safe and sound. Regardless, it sounds like during the off-season they're going to try to find a way to make it not sway, so fans don't get so freaked out all the time. Fighting crime is clearly going to be the big issue in the 2008 mayoral race, so......

Three fatal car crashes occurred in the area between Thursday night and Friday morning. One involved a speeding car travelling the wrong way on the Schuylkill Expressway. The vehicle collided with another car, killing both drivers. The highway was closed for three hours as a result. Meanwhile, another fatal accident early Friday on Route 42 in New Jersey blocked off the Walt Whitman Bridge for hours. The third incident was a hit-and-run and occurred Thursday......

Let's take a look back at a week that raised this Zen koan: if Kevin Federline got into a wrestling ring with a wrestler, who would you root for? Austinist was in an entertainment state of mind as they covered the dickens out of the Austin Film Festival, depicted all the Big 12 football coaches as South Park characters, and interviewed Jose Gonzalez. Chicagoist talked about the passion as they bid adieu to Bell's......

Things are bad in Philly, but in Atlantic City there have been so many shootings at one public housing complex that the city has instituted a police escort to protect letter carriers delivering mail there. Hey, a lot of shops in Reading Terminal Market are open on Sundays now (although obviously the Amish shops are not included). Nice! The city of Philadelphia has been charged by the US Justice Department with violating the Voting Rights......

Somehow, the world of -ists managed to make it through the week despite news that Jen & Vince broke up. -Chicagoist had fall on their mind as they made squash and fudge, read "House of Leaves" and ">tried to figure out what's next for the Cubs. Not fall related, but still of utmost concern, the whole skinny black pants thing. -Torontoist fought off an evil scourge of raccoons and went to go see who......

DVR is supposed to make TV viewing quicker. So when it takes nearly two hours to watch a one hour show, we're thinking something is wrong. Comcast says they'll replace our cable box, but we lose everything saved on our DVR. And that sucks. But hey, at least Comcast doesn't do our internet. And their commercials are at least moderately amusing. LAist: As a matter of fact, yes, yes, it does. Austinist: He doesn't look......

- It probably goes without saying by now - but if you're planning to fly out of Philadelphia International Airport, you're going to want to get there very early and watch what you pack in your carry on luggage. -The proposed fence around Independence Hall is meeting some resistance from residents. Ah, irony. It won't protect us - but it does irritate us from time to time. If you have comments about the project, here's......

- The Philly Sound is concerned that the housing boom is taking away our community gardens, and links to the Green City Strategy. - Hey local musicians and artists - there's a new label in town and they're looking for local talent (and help in promoting it). - Metroblogging Philadelphia offers emotional praise for the Home of Freedom, an IMAX short about Philadelphia. - Mothership Gothamist blogs about NYC's tabloids' reaction to Lil' Kim's release......

Ah, our Philly heart swells with pride: a local Fishtown dog is in competition for the World's Ugliest Dog! His name is Pee Wee Martini (AKA "Mr. Peepers," AKA "Son of Sam") and he's a hairless, crooked-nosed Chinese-crested, Japanese Chin mix with no teeth on one side of his mouth (see picture, right). One man's reaction upon seeing Pee Wee for the first time: "I was confused. I thought I just witnessed a horrible accident."......

Over the Hedge is a computer-animated family film from a large Hollywood studio (in this case, DreamWorks), so you know pretty much what to expect: a bunch of anthropomorphized animals voiced by a bevy of celebrities, spouting amusing jokes laced with pop culture references, who go through a series of wacky adventures that splits them apart, but then ultimately brings them back together again, closer friends than ever, and everybody learns a valuable lesson about......

Although I could make this a big gender issue, I won't. The fact of the matter is that men are usually stronger than women, but not always. I actually have plenty of female friends fully capable of carrying much heavier loads than several of my male friends. So the following, very brief, "Monday Manners" post is meant to be a universal plea for kindness: If you see someone carrying something heavy or unweildy, and that......

Last week Mayor John Street announced a ten year, $10 million plan to eradicate homelessness in the City of Brotherly Love. The $10 million for the project is already accounted for, having been earmarked from city, state and federal funds. There's a plan, devised by city officials meeting with homeless advocates and other experts. It's a huge undertaking, but one that Phillyist feels is incredibly important for the future of our city. But can it......