What’s the story with the Phillie Phanatic, anyway?

Israel-Palestine Marches Continue

Thousands of Israel supporters filled the streets of Center City Monday, continuing a string of demonstrations in Philly protesting the violence in the Middle East. Marchers condemned Hamas’ attack on Israeli civilians and called for the release of the approximately 200 hostages captured by the Palestinian militant group. [Inquirer]

• Meanwhile, hundreds of Penn students and faculty walked out of classes to protest the university’s response to the plight of Palestinians. They singled out President Liz Magill for condemning Hamas’ attack but remaining silent on the mounting civilian deaths inflicted by Israeli airstrikes. [Inquirer]

Jail Staff Knew of Cavalcante’s Plan to Escape

Corrections officers knew convicted murder Danelo Cavalcante was planning an escape from Chester County Prison a month before it happened, according to emails unearthed by ABC News. Though the acting warden did not become aware of the information until after Cavalcante climbed out of a jail exercise yard, beginning two tense weeks on the lam, the county says that the jail had already been treating him as an escape risk. [ABC News]

Pa. Lawmakers Consider Open Primaries

A pair of bills under consideration by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives would allow 1.2 million independent or third-party voters to participate in primary elections. Proponents say that people who don’t register as a Democrat or Republican should still have a say in who ends up on the ballot. A similar bill is before a state Senate committee, but does not have support of the committee chairperson to advance. [KYW]

Queen + Adam Lambert Concert | Wednesday | 8 p.m.

The American Idol champion and the classic rock band’s “Rhapsody” tour hits the Wells Fargo Center. [$59.50+, South Philly]

Philadelphia Film Festival Opening Night | Thursday | 8:45 p.m.

The annual festival kicks off with a screening of Just Mercy, a documentary about a lawyer who advocates for innocent prisoners on death row. An opening night party follows. [$20-$50, Center City]

What Remains: Preserving the Heritage of Africatown | Friday | 8 a.m.

This day-long symposium at the Penn Museum delves into the history of an Alabama community founded 1866 by formerly enslaved West Africans who were brought over on the last slave ship to arrive in the United States. [Free, University City]

Monthly Open Mic | Friday | 7 p.m.

The Perch Music and Arts Studio invites singers, poets, storytellers and performers of all kinds to share a piece at its monthly open mic or performance artist. The theme is “Your Creative Journey.” [Pay What You Can, East Kensington]

Yoga on the Banks: Community Practice | Saturday | 10 a.m.

Outdoor, all-levels, low-cost yoga on the Schuylkill Banks. [$5-20, Center City West]

The Rebirth of the PES Refinery Site

Back in 2019, massive explosions shut down Philadelphia Energy Solutions, what had been the largest and oldest oil refinery on the East Coast. Now, there are plans to build a business hub for e-commerce and life sciences on this spot, creating as many as 19,000 jobs. But accessing this 1,300 acre plant can be difficult. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Inga Saffron, architecture columnist at The Philadelphia Inquirer, who says the developer and city officials need to connect it to the city if they want the hub to reach its full transformational potential.