Philadelphia Inquirer

It’s Friday, January 11th. Police have charged a man with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly throwing the punch that led to the death of a man walking his dog. The dispute took place on Saturday at South Philly’s Gold Star Park. Witnesses say Matthew Oropeza took offense when Drew Justice asked him to use a leash while walking his dog. That’s when Oropeza allegedly punched Justice, sending him to the ground where he hit his head. Oropeza could face up to five years in prison.

It’s Thursday, January 10th. In the President's televised address to the nation Tuesday night, he suggested that a border wall could help stop heroin from entering the country. Philadelphia has been particularly hard hit by the opioid crisis. But it appears that a wall might not change that. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, heroin that lands in the United States is largely sent through legal entry points while being hidden from plain sight.

It’s Wednesday, January 9th. About 200 federal workers rallied in front the Liberty Bell Tuesday. They are angry over the partial government shutdown, and spoke of disrespect and unpaid bills. Thousands of workers across the country have been furloughed or forced to work without pay as the government tries to sort out its disagreement over President Trump’s desired border wall. Democratic U.S. representatives Mary Gay Scanlon, Brendan Boyle and Dwight Evans all spoke at the rally.

It’s Tuesday, January 8th. Federal workers plan to rally this morning at Independence National Historic Park. They will protest the partial government shutdown that has closed the park and blocked the payment of many government employees. The shutdown began on December 22nd over President Trump’s proposed border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. The rally was organized by the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents about 10 thousand workers in Philly.

It’s Monday, January 7th. The Eagles are still alive. It took a little luck at the end, but the Birds defeated the Chicago Bears, 16-15, on Sunday. The Eagles overcame two interceptions from Nick Foles. And Golden Tate scored a late go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute left in the game. Former Eagle and current Bears kicker Cody Parkey took the field for a 43-yard field goal attempt with 10 seconds left and a chance to win the game.

It’s Friday, January 4th. Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as Speaker of the House on the first day of the 116th Congress. It was a historic day for the first female House speaker, who returned to the role she used to hold. Pelosi’s appointment is part of sweeping change in the House of Representatives, which includes a diverse class of Democratic freshmen.

It’s Thursday, January 3rd. A Mummers Parade skit has caused some controversy for what many observers thought was the use of blackface. Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke denounced the annual New Year’s parade because of a character who portrayed music mogul Jay-Z. But the performer was a black man named Darrel Young who’s been a member of the Finnegan New Year Brigade Comic Club for two years. Not someone wearing blackface.

It’s Wednesday, January 2nd. Philadelphia’s suburbs are seeing a trend in turning old and vacant pharmaceutical company buildings into newer, modern work spaces. One company called United States Seating Corporation moved into a former pharma plant in Exton. It’s looking to hire 200 new employees, with wages starting at $14 an hour. The company builds seats for SEPTA and Amtrak cars.

Donald Trump appears to have his first challenger for the 2020 presidential race. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren took a major step toward launching a widely anticipated campaign on Monday, announcing the creation of an exploratory committee to advise a potential presidential run. Warren has been a very vocal critic of the president and his policies. She’s expected to be a headliner in a Democratic field that could include nearly two dozen candidates.

It’s Monday, December 31st. The Eagles are heading back to the playoffs. The Birds their postseason ticket Sunday with a 24-to-nothing win over Washington. The Eagles also needed a little help in the form of a Chicago win over Minnesota. After struggling for much of the season, the Eagles finished the year with five wins in their last six games. The Eagles will head to Chicago this weekend for a first-round showdown with the Bears.