SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL 🍻
#2 | This Week in Review - May 17th, 2025, 7:00pm
Local Rapper LGP QUA Shot Dead
Qidere Johnson, better known professionally as LGP QUA, was shot and killed on Sunday in Philadelphia’s Juniata Park neighborhood. Johnson had collaborated with the likes of will.i.am and French Montana, and was friends with rapper Meek Mill. Mill responded to the news on social media, saying: “Shit will make you different. Prayers to your family, and let's collect some of them guns. Shit sad out here." Police are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator(s). Anyone with details regarding the incident can contact the Philadelphia Police Department tip line at 215-686-8477.
The Goomba South Philly Takeover
The Italian Market Festival returns to South Philly’s vibrant 9th Street on Saturday, May 18, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., promising a spirited celebration of Italian-American culture, community, and culinary delights. Expect live music, local artists, and a smorgasbord of activities at this pay-as-you-go event, drawing crowds to the 900 block of South Street for a day of family-friendly fun. With the city buzzing from recent political dramas, this festival offers a tasty escape - grab a cannoli, soak in the vibes, and maybe leave the debates to the meatballs.
City Politics Are Off to the Races as Primary Election Looms
As the City of Brotherly Love gears up for its primary election, voters are set to head to the polls on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., to choose party nominees for key local offices. With tensions high amid recent political controversies, including Senator John Fetterman’s alleged health concerns and the state Senate’s polarizing transgender sports ban, Philadelphia’s primary promises to be a critical battleground for Democratic and Republican hopefuls alike. Political observers note that turnout in this Democratic stronghold could shape the city’s leadership and signal broader trends for the 2025 midterm cycle, while voters brace for a heated campaign season. To learn more about ballot questions and who’s running, read the Inquirer’s guide here.
Philadelphia Population Growth Lags Behind Peer Cities
Philly remains the 6th most populated city in the United States as-of 2025, but this reign may not last for much longer. According to estimates, Philadelphia gained approximately 10,500 residents between 2023 and 2024, or an increase of 0.7%. Such a growth rate puts Philadelphia lower than the national average, about 1% growth for cities with more than 50,000 residents. Additionally, Philadelphia’s population still remains below pre-pandemic levels by about 1.9%. Meanwhile, San Antonio, which has experienced remarkable growth since 2000, has grown by 6.4% since the pandemic. San Antonio is now gunning for 6th place, a mere 50,000 residents behind Philadelphia.
The Unraveling of Sen. John Fetterman
Recent concerns about Senator John Fetterman, the Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania, came to head once again as questions of his competency were raised this past week, in response to a May 8th Philadelphia Inquirer article. The article seemed to corroborate initial allegations that Fettermen is out of control and incompetent to serve. The Inquirer article reported Fetterman had launched into an unprovoked, angry outburst during a meeting with Teacher’s Union representatives on earlier in the month. A few weeks earlier, a New York Magazine article made waves after it depicted the Senator’s office as a frightening landscape and portrayed Fetterman as utterly disengaged from his senatorial duties. The concerns mostly center on allegations of erratic behavior and potential psychiatric issues stemming from his 2022 stroke. Former and current staffers, including ex-chief of staff Adam Jentleson, have expressed worries about Fetterman’s failure to follow his post-stroke recovery plan, including missing important medical checkups and not taking prescribed medications, with some describing the office as a toxic work environment. Fetterman has dismissed these claims as a “hit piece” from disgruntled former staff, asserting that he is following his doctors’ protocols and remains fit to serve. But his absence from Senate duties and strained relationships with colleagues have fueled speculation about his future in office.
Woman found floating in Schuylkill allegedly murdered husband, attempted to kill son
The body of Tonya Dupree was found floating in the Schuylkill river last Saturday morning, near the intersection of Ridge Ave and Midvale. Earlier that morning, Dupree’s son reported that she had arrived at his job at a UPS warehouse in Upper Dublin Township. When he came outside to meet her, she brandished a handgun. Dupree’s son managed to take the weapon in a struggle, but Dupree managed to flee the scene. After reporting the incident to police, Upper Merion law enforcement arrived at the Dupree home in King of Prussia to perform a welfare check, where they found Robert Dupree, Tonya’s husband, dead in bed from multiple gunshot wounds. Tonya’s body was spotted in the river shortly afterward. The city has not yet released a cause of death for Mrs. Dupree or any further details regarding the case, though it is suspected she committed suicide.
Bill Banning Transgender Athletes Passes PA House Floor
In a controversial move, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill banning transgender girls and women from competing in female sports at public schools and colleges, with five Democrats joining Republicans in support. The legislation, backed by President Trump's executive order, faces an uphill battle in the Democratic-controlled House and opposition from Governor Josh Shapiro, who has previously criticized such bans as discriminatory. Critics, including the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, argue the bill addresses a non-issue, as only one transgender student is currently recorded as competing in the state.
City DHS in Troubled Waters
In a shocking development, state regulators have downgraded the Philadelphia Department of Human Services’ (DHS) license and launched an investigation after allegations that DHS employees spied on a state probe into child abuse at the city’s Juvenile Justice Services Center (JJSC). DHS staffers allegedly accessed confidential child welfare data to monitor the investigation, prompting the state to revoke its full access to the statewide child-abuse database and restrict it to read-only status. Amid ongoing concerns about overcrowding and chaotic conditions at JJSC, where teens reportedly face dire circumstances, this scandal raises serious questions about DHS’s oversight and accountability as the city grapples with its juvenile justice crisis.
At a cost of $48 million, 650 foot bridge connects Center City to Grays Ferry
Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River Trail is set to expand with the grand opening of the “Christian to Crescent” segment this Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., connecting Center City to Grays Ferry via a massive $48 million cable-stayed pedestrian bridge. The half-mile extension, a decade in the making, links Christian Street to the Grays Ferry Crescent, offering cyclists and pedestrians a scenic, off-road route along the Schuylkill River, with vistas visible from I-76. The bridge will officially open to the public starting on Saturday, May 17th.
