The Why: Philly Explained

A Delaware County couple gave birth to a baby boy last year — the first to be born as part of the University of Pennsylvania’s uterus transplant program. He’s only the eighth baby to be born from a transplanted uterus in the United States. As this new technology develops, bioethicists wonder how far medicine should go to help women carry and give birth to a child.

Guests: Philadelphia Inquirer health reporter Marie McCullough, Rutgers-Camden Law School Professor Kimberly Mutcherson

Earlier this month, a Philadelphia police officer was supposed to stand trial for fatally shooting a suspect while on duty for the first time in almost 20 years. But the trial is being delayed indefinitely, because District Attorney Larry Krasner wants to change how the jury hears something fundamental to the case: Pennsylvania’s use of force law. And that change comes down to one word.

Guest: WHYY criminal justice reporter Aaron Moselle

As anxiety mounts over the condition of Philly schools, many teachers wonder if their buildings made them sick. Lynn Johnson is one of them. Here’s why it’s almost impossible for her to ever know.

Guest: WHYY education reporter Avi Wolfman-Arent

Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast that doesn’t outlaw discrimination against LGBTQ people in matters like housing, employment or public accommodation. But it does have more local ordinances to protect the LGBTQ community than any other state — most recently in the rural borough of Huntingdon.

Guest: Keystone Crossroads reporter Laura Benshoff

Philly residents and officials have long decried the lack of diversity in the city’s overwhelmingly white construction industry, especially as it experiences a building boom. Now, a new development project in North Philly is taking a unique approach to employ more people of color — and it seems to be working.

Guest: Philadelphia Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron

After the Penn State abuse scandal rocked Pennsylvania, the state tried to strengthen its child protection laws. Since 2015, anyone working or volunteering with children must undergo background checks. But it turns out, there’s little enforcement and few ways to know who’s in compliance, leaving kids vulnerable.

Guest: Angela Couloumbis, Spotlight PA

Studies have found New Jersey has some of the most segregated schools in the U.S. — despite being one of few states whose constitution bans de facto school segregation. A landmark lawsuit is trying to change that and could bring major changes to education in the Garden State.

Guest: NJ Spotlight founder & reporter John Mooney

The iconic Campbell Soup Company appears to be turning around. Just over a year ago, its stock had fallen, the CEO had stepped down, and an activist investor was trying to talk the board into selling the 150-year-old company headquartered in Camden. Now, that investor is singing a different tune and Campbell’s new CEO is hot on returning to its roots: soup.

Guest: WHYY New Jersey reporter Joe Hernandez

Meet the Philadelphia high school student who’s helping to lead the city’s youth movement to take action on climate change. Sabirah Mahmud, 17, talks about why she feels responsible for taking to the streets and what it’s like to be face of the movement as a young Muslim woman of color.

New Jersey lawmakers are promising a “culture change” after 20 women in state politics shared their stories of being groped, harassed and even raped at work events. Despite the #MeToo movement growing around the world, why has it taken so long for their stories to come to light?

Guest: NJ.com’s Kelly Heyboer, who reported this story with Susan K. Livio