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| What Philly's Talking About |
| Bodies of Missing Workers Recovered at CHOP Garage Collapse | The remains of Ironworkers Local 401 members Matthew Kane and Mark Scott Jr. were found early yesterday morning after crews demolished the parking garage in Grays Ferry. A third victim, Stepan Shevchuk, died shortly after the collapse on Wednesday. Mayor Parker has ordered the city solicitor and law department to conduct a full investigation into the tragedy. [CBS Philly] | - Related: All USPS mail service at the Grays Ferry location will move to Lindbergh Boulevard while the Grays Ferry Shopping Center remains closed. [Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management]
|  | Philadelphia Flyers celebrate a victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on April 13, 2026. (Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) |
| Flyers Clinch Playoff Spot | In a 3-2 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes last night, the Flyers ended a six-year drought as the team advances to the playoffs. The team’s final home game is tonight, and the organization is asking all fans to come show support and wear orange. [NBC Sports Philadelphia, Philadelphia Flyers] | | | City Council Advances Anti-ICE Legislation | Community members and immigrant rights advocacy groups spoke in support of a package of bills that would restrict the city’s collaboration with ICE during a committee hearing yesterday. The legislation awaits a final passage in City Council and Mayor Parker’s signature. The Parker administration flagged “legally problematic” language in the bills, but will likely not oppose them. [🎧 City Cast Philly, Billy Penn] | | Are Philly Police Using Drones in Your Neighborhood? | The Philadelphia Police Department has deployed drones nearly 8,000 times since its drone first responder program launched in 2024. Currently active in four police districts, the police hope to expand its use citywide, but Councilmember Rue Landau wants City Council and experts to have a say in how the tech is being used. [🔒 The Inquirer] | | New Partnership Could Address Philly’s Potholes | Waymo is teaming up with GPS app Waze to track the location of potholes along the driverless cars’ routes. Drivers can then confirm on Waze whether the potholes have been filled. The program has launched in five cities and will expand to Philly once Waymo goes autonomous; Philly’s vehicles are currently operating with a human monitoring. [Philly Voice] |
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| | | City Fitness makes it easier to build a routine you actually stick with—and feels good to come back to. You can lift, take yoga or Pilates, hop into a cycling or HIIT class, and even recover with things like saunas and cryotherapy—all in one place. It’s welcoming, thoughtfully designed, and quickly becomes part of your week—where you reset, see familiar faces, and feel your best. → Try it with a complimentary Day Pass at cityfitness.com. |
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| Here’s How You Can Help Grow Philly’s Tree Canopy |
|  | Residents can make Philly greener by joining a Tree Tender group or volunteering at a planting event. (Courtesy of Albert Yee for the Fairmount Park Conservancy) |
| At a city budget hearing on April 1, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation informed City Council that it has a backlog of close to 30,000 trees to address. With so many hazardous trees in need of pruning and removal, that list may never reach zero. | | The loss of trees throws a wrench in the city’s 10-year plan to increase the tree canopy and protect existing coverage. | | Philadelphians can help with this by growing Philly’s urban forest in their immediate communities. Here’s how. | | What’s a Tree Tender? | Tree Tenders are groups of volunteers trained to plant trees and maintain them in their communities. The initiative is a collaboration with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and community partners like nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and watershed groups. | | How Do I Become One? | Throughout the year, PHS hosts training in-person and online at the basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. After completing the basic level, you can become a certified Tree Tender and join your local group. At the higher levels, you can get certified to take on leadership roles and more complicated maintenance tasks. | | Basic training includes lessons on tree biology, identification, care, and safety. A full course is available at a sliding scale cost, with a suggested donation of $40. Some Tree Tender groups may waive the fee. | | Where Can I Find a Group Near Me? | You can find a group near you using this map. Tree Tender groups exist in many Philadelphia neighborhoods and the surrounding suburbs. | | After becoming certified, you can help neighbors register to receive a tree during the next planting cycle, assist with pruning, and answer questions about tree care. | | Can I Plant Trees Without Becoming a Tree Tender? | Opportunities arise every spring and fall to plant trees throughout the city. These are the best times of year to plant and do necessary maintenance because you avoid extreme weather conditions and interfering with budding trees. | | No experience is needed to participate in a planting, as training is done on-site. If you’re a certified Tree Tender who has participated in a planting before, your expertise can help guide first-timers in a successful planting. | | You can find an upcoming PHS tree planting event here. Love Your Park Week, a celebration of Philly’s parks, also has tree care opportunities. | | If you want a tree for your private property, you can apply through your neighborhood Tree Tender group to have one planted by volunteers in the next planting cycle. Another option is Tree Philly, which hosts yard tree giveaways and will provide delivery and planting assistance to residents with limited mobility. |
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