As the Board of Education appears poised to take a long-awaited position on the School District of Philadelphia’s facilities master plan, tensions have escalated between district officials and local lawmakers. Some Council members have gone as far as to threaten withholding funds from the district if it follows through on closing over a dozen buildings. Dr. Tony Watlington Sr. finds himself smack dab in the middle of the controversy. The superintendent tells KYW Newsradio Education Reporter Mike DeNardo why reconciling his proposal isn’t as easy as pointing to the district’s considerable $4.6 billion budget. 

00:00 “Final ‘final’ recommendations” and changes to facilities plan ahead of upcoming Board meeting

01:38 Why Watlington has kept Lankenau and Robeson High Schools on the closure list

04:25 Watlington’s back-and-forth with City Council members

07:22 Are SEPTA passes with unlimited rides for students a good idea?

Have a question for Dr. Watlington? Email us at [email protected] and listen for a response on future episodes of "After School!” Catch the show on the air every Wednesday at 3:45 PM ET on KYW Newsradio 103.9 FM.

Cue the boxing bell! It’s round 1 between Mayor Parker and Uber, as the two sides duke it out over the administration’s proposed rideshare tax to help fund Philadelphia public schools. Also at City Hall this week, lawmakers moved forward with legislation aimed at limiting ICE’s power in Philly. And the Flyers are Stanley Cup playoffs-bound for the first time in six years (while the Sixers’ postseason prospects look somewhat…dim). Learn about these stories and more, as Matt Leon checks in with KYW Newsradio’s team of reporters to explain major developments from the past week that shaped the region. 

00:00 Intro

02:08 Parker vs. Uber, Round 1

08:40 City Council poised to restrict ICE’s activities

13:45 “Rooted in racism”: Black Maternal Health Week continues to fight systemic obstacles

18:18 Nearly a year later, identity of Jane Doe hit-and-run survivor remains a mystery

24:27 Get ready for Flyers (and 76ers) playoff action!

30:13 Philly Pride Festival pivots from the Gayborhood to the Parkway

Listen to The Week in Philly every Saturday at 5am and 3pm, and Sunday at 3pm on KYW Newsradio 103.9FM.

00:00 Mayor Parker vs. Uber; will Watlington get involved?

01:27 More details about building improvements in facilities master plan

03:18 Looking ahead to upcoming appearance in front of City Council

Have a question for Dr. Watlington? Email us at [email protected] and listen for a response on future episodes of "After School!” Catch the show on the air every Wednesday at 3:45 PM ET on KYW Newsradio 103.9 FM.

A garage being built for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia collapsed on Wednesday, killing multiple construction workers. America 250 has been the talk of the town, but new tourism predictions say it might not draw the crowds we’ve been expecting. The former World Cafe Live was shut down for operating without a liquor license. And the Philadelphia Latino community has been grappling with the tarnished legacy of political activist Cesar Chavez and what to do with his mural in North Philly.

00:00 Intro

02:00 Garage collapse leads to multiple deaths in Grays Ferry

07:00 America 250 may not bring such a big surge in tourism

12:23 Former World Cafe Life shut down, staff arrested

16:58 Cezar Chavez mural replaced in North Philly

22:53 A tour of the Newtown Square golf course hosting the PGA Championship

28:17 A new album captures “The Sounds of Delco”

Listen to The Week in Philly with Matt Leon and our team of reporters on KYW Newsradio every Saturday at 5am and 3pm, and Sunday at 3pm.

Dr. Tony Watlington Sr. believes the School District of Philadelphia’s $2.8 billion facilities master plan presents a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to eliminate buildings with poor and unsatisfactory ratings, while expanding higher-quality pre-K and extracurricular offerings. Any next steps, however, are currently on hold, as the Board of Education continues to review the proposal. KYW Newsradio’s Mike DeNardo asks Watlington when he expects to hear back from the Board. The two also discuss a complaint filed involving Thomas B. Moffitt and Horatio Hackett elementary schools. 

00:00 Thoughts on the Mayor’s dramatic revision to her proposed rideshare tax that would fund public schools

03:43 Reaction to a human relations commission complaint involving Moffitt and Hackett elementary schools

05:50 Any sense when the Board of Education might weigh in on the facilities plan?

06:48 Expectations for the 2026 “Philly School Experience” student survey 

Have a question for Dr. Watlington? Email us at [email protected] and listen for a response on future episodes of "After School!” Catch the show on the air every Wednesday at 3:45 PM ET on KYW Newsradio 103.9 FM.

The U.S. Supreme Court held a hearing this week on birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants. We break down the case, plus get the latest on the city's budget talks, the federal case over the EEOC's request for lists of Jewish students and faculty from the University of Pennsylvania, SEPTA's efforts to boost its Regional Rail fleet, and local chefs and restaurants in the final running for the James Beard Awards.

00:00 Intro

02:08 Federal judge says Penn must provide lists of Jewish students and faculty

6:39 Explaining the SCOTUS birthright citizenship case

12:40 SEPTA’s new trains

18:27 Bensalem nurse accused of child abuse

24:18 Positive polls for NJ Gov. Mikie Sherrill

30:21 Iron Hill Brewery to reopen; which local restaurants are up for James Beard Awards

Listen to The Week in Philly with Matt Leon and our team of reporters on KYW Newsradio every Saturday at 5am and 3pm, and Sunday at 3pm.

The School District of Philadelphia’s facilities master plan has been in the hands of the Board of Education for over a month. As Dr. Tony Watlington Sr. and district community members continue to wait for next steps, the superintendent addresses why certain buildings were removed from the initial closure list and others weren’t. Watlington also shares with KYW Newsradio Education Reporter Mike DeNardo his stance on whether the district would ultimately accept philanthropic support to save certain schools, as Councilmember Jamie Gauthier suggested.

00:00 Listener question: why wasn’t Parkway Northwest High School spared?

02:34 Would the district accept philanthropic support to save buildings?

04:33 Timeline for Board of Education vote

Have a question for Dr. Watlington? Email us at [email protected] and listen for a response on future episodes of "After School!” Catch the show on the air every Wednesday at 3:45 PM ET on KYW Newsradio 103.9 FM.

For most of the week, lines snaked stubbornly around Philadelphia International Airport, a frustrating reminder of the government’s inability to secure funding for the Department of Homeland Security. But days after ICE agents arrived with orders to ease the load on TSA workers, the Senate sent a bill to the House to get DHS back up and running. Find out how this development impacted the scene at PHL, while catching up on the past week’s other big headlines from the Delaware Valley, including Phillies’ Opening Day and state lawmakers’ efforts to give Pennsylvania’s minimum wage a boost. 

00:00 Intro

02:07 How long until PHL gets back to normal?

06:52 City Council scrutinizes Mayor Parker’s $7B budget

12:54 Could raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage really happen?

18:30 Breaking down Big, Beautiful Bill’s local impact on Philly

24:26 With new season underway, Phillies again face World Series-or-bust expectations

30:37 Stolen pitbull found after 10 years

Listen to The Week in Philly with Matt Leon and our team of reporters on KYW Newsradio every Saturday at 5am and 3pm, and Sunday at 3pm

Facing a sizable structural deficit, superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington Sr. recently announced a job-cutting plan that would save the School District of Philadelphia $225 million. Mayor Cherelle Parker, in the midst of pitching a budget of her own to City Council, believes hitting rideshare operators like Lyft and Uber with a $1 tax could boost funding for schools and keep staff employed. KYW Newsradio Mike DeNardo asks Watlington for his thoughts on Parker’s pitch, and the implications it could carry for full- and part-time district personnel. 

00:00 How Mayor Parker’s ride share tax could impact the school district

02:57 What about the fate of building substitute teachers?

04:16 The latest on potential central office cuts

Have a question for Dr. Watlington? Email us at [email protected] and listen for a response on future episodes of "After School!” Catch the show on the air every Wednesday at 3:45 PM ET on KYW Newsradio 103.9 FM.

Endless lines at Philadelphia International Airport security checkpoints due to the Homeland Security shutdown, downed wires and trees throughout the area left in the aftermath of Monday’s storm, and unpredictable delays on SEPTA’s Regional Rail lines all made for a chaotic week in Philadelphia. But, on the bright side, there were two major concert announcements for the months ahead, a local college hoops team made a spirited run to the NCAA Tournament, and a cutting-edge medical company planted its flag in South Philly. KYW Newsradio’s team of reporters explain the biggest stories that shaped the region this past week

00:00 Intro

02:03 A federal problem becomes a local nightmare at PHL

13:02 Region rocked by early-week storm; a KYW reporter covered and lived the destruction

18:12 SEPTA Regional Rail riders feel the pain…again

24:03 Bill Gates-backed company plants flag in Bellwether District

24:38 An appreciation: Penn’s surprising March Madness appearance 

28:34 Roots Picnic and Welcome America: summer can’t come soon enough

Listen to The Week in Philly with Matt Leon and our team of reporters on KYW Newsradio every Saturday at 5am and 3pm, and Sunday at 3pm