SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL đ»
#9 | This Week in Review - February 14th, 2026, 7:00pm đ
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ONLY TWO OUT OF 140 SPEED CUSHIONS UP TO CODE, CITY CONTROLLER CLAIMS
PHILADELPHIA KILLER ARRESTED AFTER 25 YEARS ON THE MOST WANTED LIST
BEN THERE, FORGED THAT: CENTER CITY BAR BANS UNDER-25s
A popular Center City dive bar has raised its entry age to 25 in response to a flood of high-quality fake IDs and growing rowdiness. Dirty Frankâs, at 13th and Pine streets, lifted its minimum from 21 to 25 after owner Jody Sweitzer said younger, underage patrons were using increasingly sophisticated fakes, smuggling in outside liquor, vaping indoors, and ignoring house rules. The breaking point came when staff seized a nearly undetectable counterfeit ID bearing Benjamin Franklinâs face and a fake Market Street address; the document reportedly scans and passes UV-light inspection.
Since the change took effect, some regulars have seen it as an improvement. One 25-year-old patron described the previous scene as chaotic, with aisles packed and people âbumping into each other,â calling the new cutoff necessary despite its bluntness.
Sweitzer, who has spotted the same fakes selling online for about $100, is acquiring advanced scanning equipment but says the â25-and-overâ house rule will remain in place until better detection tools arrive.
NO HEAT, NO SEAT
Heating failures linked to the prolonged cold snap have disrupted operations at multiple Philadelphia schools, forcing relocations and leaving some classrooms dangerously cold. At Strawberry Mansion High School, staff reported temperatures in the 40s across parts of the building, while Greenberg Elementary students shifted to virtual learning for nearly a week before being relocated to the former Meehan Middle School, a district âswing space.â Officials said repairs are ongoing but did not provide a clear timeline, acknowledging that the move may continue for an extended period as heating issues are assessed and resolved.
Parents say the disruptions have strained families and raised concerns about safety, overcrowding, and the districtâs aging infrastructure, which faces billions of dollars in unmet needs.
Some criticized the relocation logistics and said repeated building problems could drive families away from the cityâs schools. District leaders pointed to a proposed $2.8 billion facilities master plan â including school closures and widespread modernization â as a long-term solution, while emphasizing that student safety remains a priority and that transportation and support services are being provided during the transition.
GOV. SHAPIRO VOWS TO FIGHT DHS DETENTION CENTERS
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is threatening legal action against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over plans to convert warehouses in Berks and Schuylkill counties into large-scale immigration detention centers. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Shapiro warned his administration would âaggressively pursue every optionâ to block the facilities, which could hold up to 9,000 people. The proposed sites are part of a broader federal push tied to President Donald Trumpâs immigration enforcement agenda, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement expanding detention capacity nationwide.
Federal officials say the projects will undergo community impact reviews and could bring jobs and economic activity, but Shapiro and several state leaders argue the facilities would strain local infrastructure, harm public health, and pose safety risks. The governor also criticized what he described as a lack of local consultation and raised concerns about aggressive enforcement tactics. Despite his opposition, Pennsylvania continues limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities, while immigrant rights advocates push for the state to end all collaboration with ICE.
CITATION NATION
Philadelphiaâs First Judicial District has issued a fraud alert warning residents about a text message scam impersonating the cityâs municipal courts. Officials say the messages falsely claim recipients owe unpaid parking tickets and threaten court appearances unless payments are made through links included in the texts. Court leaders stressed that the municipal court system does not demand payments or send citation notices through unsolicited text messages.
Authorities are urging residents not to click suspicious links or share personal or financial information with unknown senders. Anyone who receives the messages or believes they may have been targeted is encouraged to contact local police, the Pennsylvania Attorney Generalâs Bureau of Consumer Protection, or the Federal Trade Commission. Officials say the warning is part of ongoing efforts to protect the public from increasingly sophisticated impersonation scams.
ONLY 2 OUT OF 140 SPEED CUSHIONS UP TO CODE, CITY CONTROLLER CLAIMS
There are widespread problems with speed cushions installed near Philadelphia schools, according to findings from the Philadelphia City Controllerâs Office. Inspectors examined 140 traffic-calming devices at 44 schools and found only two met required blueprint specifications. Controller Christy Brady said 95% of the cushions were too steep, with many exceeding recommended heights and grades set by state and federal safety standards, potentially increasing the risk of vehicle damage and unsafe driving conditions.
The report follows numerous 311 complaints from residents about noise, swerving traffic, and damaged cars, including one driver who reported costly repairs after hitting an oversized cushion near a school. Officials say the city has installed cushions at 135 schools since 2023 at a cost of roughly $51,000 per location, but it remains unclear how many citywide are out of compliance or who will pay for repairs. The Philadelphia Streets Department, which oversees the project, said it could not comment until reviewing the full report, while watchdog officials suggested the city may need to seek restitution if installations are found to be substandard.
SHAPIRO MAKES $1 BILLION HOUSE CALL
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled a new affordable housing proposal during an appearance in the East Falls section of Philadelphia, outlining a long-term strategy to expand access to housing across the state. The âHousing Action Planâ aims to build new homes, preserve existing units, reduce barriers to homeownership, and strengthen renter protections over the next decade. The proposal also seeks to streamline development regulations and improve coordination between state and local governments to accelerate construction.
As part of his latest budget proposal, Shapiro included $1 billion in a critical infrastructure fund intended to support housing development projects statewide. The plan and funding package must be approved by the Pennsylvania General Assembly before moving forward, with supporters arguing the initiative could ease housing shortages while critics and lawmakers weigh costs and implementation details.
PHILADELPHIA KILLER ARRESTED AFTER 25 YEARS ON THE MOST WANTED LIST
An arrest in Honduras has brought a breakthrough in a decades-old Philadelphia child murder case. Authorities confirmed that Alexis Flores was taken into custody more than 25 years after he was accused of raping and killing 5-year-old Iriana DeJesus in North Philadelphia in 2000. Irianaâs body was discovered wrapped in wallpaper weeks after she was reported missing. Flores was identified as a suspect in 2007 and later placed on the FBIâs Most Wanted list. Director Kash Patel announced the arrest on Friday, stating that âtime and distance do not shield violent offenders from justice.â
Honduran authorities have reportedly approved Floresâ extradition to the United States, though a timeline for his return to Pennsylvania and prosecution remains unclear.
CITY SHELLS OUT FOR OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT â AGAIN
Philadelphia taxpayers will be paying $250,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by a former employee of the cityâs Register of Wills office who alleged he was fired for refusing to contribute to then-Register of Wills Tracey Gordonâs reelection campaign. Nicholas Barone claimed Gordon pressured staff for donations in 2021 and terminated him in early 2022 after he declined to give, despite receiving a positive performance review days earlier. The settlement comes after four similar lawsuits were previously resolved for a combined $400,000, bringing total payouts tied to alleged misconduct in the office to more than $650,000 during Gordonâs tenure.
The controversy has continued under Gordonâs successor, John Sabatina Sr., who defeated her in the 2023 Democratic primary. The city has since paid an additional $256,000 to settle lawsuits from former employees who allege they were fired to make room for political hires, with several cases still pending. Good-government advocates have criticized the mounting legal costs and renewed calls to reform or abolish some of Philadelphiaâs row offices, including the Register of Wills, arguing that entrenched âpatronageâ practices continue to burden taxpayers.
TRASH FIRE IN GRAYâS FERRY MAY POSE HEALTH RISK
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health issued an advisory Thursday evening urging residents in the cityâs Grays Ferry neighborhood to avoid unnecessary exposure to smoke from a trash fire near the Philadelphia Transfer Station on Grays Ferry Avenue. The blaze, reported around 5:30 p.m. at a facility operated by Waste Management, appeared contained to a large open building, and no injuries were reported. Health officials said inspectors were dispatched to collect air samples and that no specific hazardous substances had been identified, but cautioned that smoke could pose risks to sensitive groups.
Officials advised residents to remain indoors as much as possible, close windows and doors, and limit physical activity outdoors. Those who must go outside were encouraged to wear masks if available. The health department and the cityâs Office of Emergency Management said they will continue monitoring air quality and provide updates as more information becomes available.
LOCAL CONCERTS, FEBRUARY 16TH - FEBRUARY 21ST
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH
Sound & Shape
Nikki Lopez Philly, Philadelphia, PA
Jade
The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH
Blessing Offor and Laura Cheadle
The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA
Drew Nugent
The Lounge at World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA
James Day
Sellersville Theater 1894, Sellersville, PA
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH
Lauren Spencer-Smith, Henry Moodie, and Maisy Kay
The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA
The Final Draft
City Winery, Philadelphia, PA
TWEN
Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA,
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH
The Barr Brothers
Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Sword II
Warehouse on Watts (WoW), Philadelphia, PA
YOUTHYEAR
Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH
Margo Price and Pearl Charles
Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Dead Boys
Nikki Lopez Philly, Philadelphia, PA
BARELY ALIVE
The Ave Live, Philadelphia, PA
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21TH
Miguel and Jean Dawson
The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
redveil
Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, Pa
Noah Rinker
The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA
Remember Sports (w. Eraser)
Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA
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