🍳 The best greasy spoons in Philly

🏫 South Philly School Closed Due to Asbestos

The School District of Philadelphia uncovered asbestos in another school, this time at Southwark, a K-8 school in South Philly. The school will close for “several weeks” as crews work to clear the building of the harmful material. The district plans to use a nearby school for in-person learning during the abatement process at Southwark. [Inquirer]

• SDP closed six schools last school year to remove damaged asbestos. Why does this keep happening in Philly? [City Cast Philly 🎧]
• Pennsylvania’s schools are chronically underfunded. Here’s how the state might fix that. [City Cast Philly 🎧]

🐻 Loose Bear Caught in Montco

Plymouth Township officials announced last week that a black bear seen hanging out near the Plymouth Meeting Mall had been trapped and relocated. Before he was collared, the wild animal was spotted taking a dip in a local pond and ambling through suburban neighborhoods. "In all my 84 years, I never saw a bear in my yard or the geographical area, so it's scary,” area resident Gerry Rosato told 6ABC. [6ABC]

Woman Charged In Killing of SEPTA Driver

A Belmont woman has been charged with murder following the fatal shooting of a SEPTA bus driver last week. Philadelphia Police allege Zhontay Capers, 21, shot Bernard Gribbin six times while he was driving his Route 23 SEPTA bus in Germantown. Authorities say the shooting may have followed a dispute between Gribbin and Capers, though no motive has been determined. [Inquirer]

• SEPTA drivers are increasingly under attack. They say the agency and law enforcement aren’t doing enough to protect them. [Inquirer]

👻 Spruce Hill Tot Parade | Tuesday | 4 p.m.

Catch the tiniest ghouls and witches in this annual Halloween walk. Come for the cute costumes, stay for the cider and baked treats. The parade starts at 45th and Larchwood Streets. [Free, West Philly]

🪦 Halloween Nights | Through Nov. 11 | Times Vary

Check out five haunted houses, historic tours, live performances, and more all within the grounds of the historic (and infamous) Eastern State Penitentiary. [$8+, Fairmount]

🧙’WICKED’ The Musical | Wednesday - Nov. 26 | Times Vary

This Broadway sensation retells the story of “The Wizard of Oz” by exploring the friendship between the Wicked Witch and Good Witch. [$30+, Center City]

Local Universities Struggle To Message Around Israel-Hamas War

When leaders at the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University released statements about violent attacks in Israel and Gaza, they got mixed reviews. While some students, faculty, and alumni welcomed their words, others protested or threatened to cancel their donations. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Karin Fischer, senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education, about the backlash to these statements and how higher education leaders grapple with communication around divisive topics.