The Why: Philly Explained

Doylestown therapist Edie Weinstein puts the squeeze on people by giving free hugs. She’s part of an international movement of huggers that connects people through cuddly contact.

Philadelphia is using evocative public art to promote the largely underused Navy Yard as a place where people can live, work and play. So far, the art installations have drawn thousands of people. Can the Navy Yard weave itself into the fabric of the city? Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Jacob Adelman explains.

City Hall stepped away from the politics of the last two decades when it changed Philadelphia’s 10-year tax abatement. PlanPhilly’s Jake Blumgart explains the controversy behind the tax break on new construction and the meaning of its reform.

‘Tough on crime’ policies instituted in the 1980s to address the crack epidemic disproportionately affected African Americans. With the rise of the opioid crisis, attitudes about punishment have largely shifted. Now, people struggling with addiction are treated more like patients who need treatment than criminals who deserve jail time. But Asbury Park Press reporters Shannon Mullen and Austin Bogues explain why vestiges of the crack epidemic remain in drug enforcement today — and still hurt black people.

A 2018 federal farm bill removed hemp from a list of controlled substances and cleared the way for farmers to grow the plant. Some Pennsylvania farmers have started the process, hoping hemp will be a cash crop. But why is hemp farming regarded as risky? WITF’s Rachel McDevitt tells the story of one farmer who is growing hemp in Lancaster County.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro charged State Representative Movita Johnson-Harrell with stealing $500,000 from her own charity last week. She is the latest in a long string of Pennsylvania politicians charged with corruption. WHYY political reporter Dave Davies explains why our public officials keep cheating, and what’s being done to change the culture.

Natural gas was supposed to bridge our energy needs until we built up our capacity for cleaner fuels. So why aren’t we any closer to relying on renewable energy? StateImpact Pennsylvania’s Susan Phillips explains how Pennsylvania, a state that hardly produced any natural gas 20 years ago, became the nation’s second largest natural gas producer.

Does cracking down on flavored e-cigarettes make it harder for adults trying to quit smoking?

Philadelphia is in the middle of a construction boom, and some demolitions have led to nearby homes collapsing. In Fishtown, neighbors are stepping up, organizing and trying  to prevent “construction destruction.” Why does the city need their help? PlanPhilly’s Meir Rinde explains.

Across the Philadelphia School District, lockdowns happen as frequently as every other day. Students hide under their desks or cram into closets and wait for the all-clear. And when the lockdowns are lifted, Michaela Winberg of WHYY’s Billy Penn explains why they’re not really over for many students.