If you’ve spent any time walking down South Broad lately, you’ve probably noticed the orange cones are multiplying. Honestly, it’s getting a little ridiculous. But there’s a reason for the mess. Yesterday, the city officially broke ground on the AveArts 2.0 project. It’s a $150 million plan to turn that mile-long stretch from City Hall to Washington Avenue into what they're calling a "world-class cultural boulevard." Basically, they want it to look like a green, artsy paradise by the time the World Cup and the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. hit us in a few months.
But that’s just the surface level of the daily news in Philadelphia PA. Underneath the construction noise, there’s a whole lot of political drama and health warnings that you actually need to know about before you head out for your morning commute or weekend plans.
The Fight Over ICE and the Courthouse
Things got heated at Salt and Light Church in Kingsessing on Wednesday. District Attorney Larry Krasner and Sheriff Rochelle Bilal didn’t hold back. They’re essentially drawing a line in the sand against federal ICE agents. Krasner was pretty blunt about it, saying he’d arrest any agent who breaks the law while trying to conduct raids in Philly.
Sheriff Bilal doubled down on her "bring the smoke" comments from last week. You’ve probably seen the clips on social media. It's a massive clash between local and federal authority that’s making a lot of people nervous, especially in immigrant communities. Councilmember Rue Landau pointed out a real concern: if people are too scared to go to court because of ICE, domestic violence cases and other trials basically fall apart.
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Measles Warning at 30th Street and PHL
Switching gears to something a bit more immediate for your health. The Health Department just dropped a warning about measles exposure.
If you were at Philadelphia International Airport (Terminal A East) or 30th Street Station on the evening of Wednesday, January 7, you might have been exposed.
Specifically, it involves Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 175. The "window" for symptoms lasts until January 28. If you were there and you start feeling like you have a nasty cold or see a rash, don't just walk into a waiting room. Call your doctor first. It sounds like a small thing, but measles is incredibly contagious.
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Sports Vibe Check: Maxey is the Man, but the Eagles...
Let’s be real. The Eagles' season ended, and everyone is still miserable about it. The "vibe" in the city right now is basically a collective sigh of frustration directed at the coaching staff. People are already looking at 2026 NFL Mock Drafts just to feel something again.
On the bright side? Tyrese Maxey.
- 30.9 points per game (leads the NBA)
- Playing nearly 40 minutes a night
- Leading the Sixers to a 22-16 record
The Sixers are doing this weird scheduling thing with "two-game sets" against the same team, which Maxey says feels like a playoff preview. If you need a distraction from the Birds, the Sixers are pretty much the only thing keeping the city’s sports heart beating right now.
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The 2026 Governor's Race Starts Today
It feels way too early, but Governor Josh Shapiro was just in Northwest Philly to kick off his re-election campaign. He’s already raised over $30 million, which is a state record. He’s talking about raising the minimum wage and protecting reproductive rights, but mostly he’s positioning himself as the guy who can stand up to "chaos in D.C."
Mayor Cherelle Parker was there too, giving him her full support. It's interesting because the city's new $6.8 billion "One Philly 2.0" budget is finally in play. They're pouring $800 million into the H.O.M.E. initiative to build 30,000 housing units. If you're a renter or looking to buy, keep an eye on the "One Philly Mortgage Program" that's launching soon. It’s supposed to make homeownership actually possible for people who aren't millionaires.
What Most People Get Wrong About the New Arena
There’s still a lot of confusion about the Sixers' arena. To clear it up: the Chinatown "76 Place" plan is officially dead. They’ve partnered with Comcast Spectacor for a new 50/50 joint venture arena in South Philly.
The new goal is to have it open by 2030. Why the rush? Because Philly is getting a WNBA team, and they need a place to play. They just hired the architects (Populous and Moody Nolan) who did the Steelers' stadium and the Bucks' arena. So, the "Save Chinatown" folks won that round, and the Sports Complex is about to get a massive facelift.
Actionable Steps for Philadelphians Today
- Check your vax records: If you were at 30th Street or the airport on Jan 7, verify you've had your MMR shots.
- Plan for South Broad delays: The AveArts 2.0 construction is going to make the stretch from City Hall to Washington Ave a nightmare. Use 15th or 13th St if you're driving.
- Look into the Tangled Title Fund: If you're struggling with home ownership paperwork, the new FY26 budget just increased funding for this. It’s free help to make sure your house stays yours.
- Dry January? If you're doing the "Dry January" thing, there’s a mocktail bar crawl happening in Northern Liberties and Fishtown this weekend. It’s a good way to get out without the Eagles-induced hangover.
The daily news in Philadelphia PA is moving fast because 2026 is the year everything changes for this city. Between the World Cup prep and the political showdowns, it’s a lot to keep track of, but staying on top of the small details—like where not to park and which trains to avoid—makes the chaos a lot more manageable.