Philly Honors MLK Day
This photo — trom the Jack T. Franklin Photography Collection of the
African American Museum in Philadelphia — shows Rev. King posing with the Philadelphia delegation of the Montgomery Civil Rights March in 1965.
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Philadelphia. Here’s what you need to know today.
Tens of thousands of Philadelphians will honor MLK Day by volunteering in a day of service.
NBCNews.com reports: “The City of Brotherly Love is home to one of the largest MLK Day events in the country, the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.” A record 140,000 participants are expected, NBC10 reports, including the 5,000 volunteers expected to gather at Girard College. If you don’t already have volunteer activities planned, you can check out this list at Metro Philly. (If you’re in more of a tourism mood, Curbed Philly has a list of locations in Philadelphia where King “left his mark.”) Schools are closed today, but if you’re still going into work, don’t forget that SEPTA is operating on a holiday schedule today.
One man is dead and another wounded after a former resident opened fire on staffers of a Philly homeless shelter.
The suspect had been evicted from the Station House men’s shelter Friday night for being intoxicated, against the shelter’s rules. One man in his 40s was killed; another, shot in the hip, was taken to Temple University Hospital. 6ABC reports the shelter is run by SELF, Inc., a nonprofit directed by former Mayor Wilson Goode, who vowed to reassess security protocols. “We will investigate whatever appropriate means we need to investigate to ensure that our employees and residents are safe in their environment,” said Goode. “We’re very, very concerned,” said Marie Nahikian, Director of the Office of Supportive Housing. “This is not something that happens in the City of Philadelphia’s shelters for people experiencing homelessness. It’s a very unusual situation.” The suspect is still at large.
Brrrrrr! It’s going to be unpleasantly cold today, forecasters warn, and through the week.
AccuWeather says temperatures in the area will have a tough time hitting 30 today or Tuesday, and that brisk winds will make it feel even colder — like it’s in the teens. NBC 10 says to be careful on the road: Leftover snow and moisture from Sunday’s flurries might be re-freezing on the streets this morning. And Sunday’s brief dusting might be a portent of things to come: The National Weather Service says “a more significant snow event” could happen late Friday.
Fuel up! Gas prices in some parts of the Philly region have dipped below $2 a gallon.
That’s the lowest in seven years, the Daily Times reports, and news of it brought customers out this week to fill up their tanks. Pennsylvania’s gas tax kept the state from reaching this milestone earlier, AAA spokesman Michael Green says. “The vast majority of states are already under $2 a gallon. Pennsylvania is lagging behind when it comes to cheap gas prices,” he said, adding that “most drivers are paying the cheapest prices they have since 2009.”
It’s the best time of the year for Philly foodies: Restaurant Week is here.
Philly Mag reports: Center City District’s Restaurant Week kicked off on Sunday and runs for two weeks (not including Saturday, January 23). The deal is the same as it has been for many years now. Participating restaurants offer a three or more course dinner for $35. Many restaurants also offer a three-course lunch for $2o. Want Foobooz’s recommendations? They’re right here.
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