Ⓜ️ SEPTA’s signage makeover

🚔 Police Search for Escaped Teenager

A 17-year-old who’d been charged with murder and was awaiting trial escaped from custody on Wednesday after being transported to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for a hand injury. As of Thursday afternoon, police hadn’t tracked him down, but they did find and question a suspected accomplice who’d helped him flee. [Inquirer 🔒]

🚃 Community Groups Raise Alarm about SEPTA Cuts

Philadelphians are raising concerns about SEPTA’s likely looming budget shortfall and the reduced service that it may cause. Over 1,000 people registered for a Tuesday Zoom event on the issue organized by Northwest Philly neighborhood groups. [WHYY]

• Service could be cut by 20% and fares could increase 15 to 30%, SEPTA's CEO said. [Philadelphia Business Journal 🔒]

🏀 Debate Over 76ers Arena Proposal Continues

As City Council gaveled in for its first 2024 session on Thursday, protesters with the Save Chinatown Coalition — a group strongly opposing the Sixers’ proposed arena on Market East — demonstrated outside City Hall. [CBS3]

• Meanwhile, Sixers leadership says they’ve gathered 30,000 signatures in favor of the arena proposal from Philly residents and suburban commuters. [PhillyVoice]
• Related: Back in August, City Cast Philly took a look at the state of the arena debate. 🎧

🧊 City Fundraises for Aquatics with “Philly Phreeze”

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is encouraging residents to help raise funds for lifeguard bonuses and pool programming by taking a winter plunge into Kelly Pool next month. Participants must get friends to sponsor them and raise at least $50 to qualify. [City of Philadelphia]

Ready for this week’s mural madness?

In “Where Is It?,” we ask you to locate — from your own recognition, not an internet search — a piece of public art that’s located somewhere in Philly.

Last week’s image, courtesy of Chris M., featured these two cartoon cuties:

It seems like this one was tricky. Just one Hey Philly reader was able to guess its location — congrats to Janelle R.!

The frying pan and egg are painted on the side of Good Hatch, a breakfast and lunch cafe at 8th & Watkins Streets in South Philly that just opened in October of last year. The two characters are actually just one piece of a larger mural that has some other breakfast foods on it, too. (Here it is from a different angle.)

On to this week’s image, shared by Hey Philly reader Martha S.:

Where do you think this is? Let us know here or by replying to this email.

Predatory Towing, the New 'SEPTA Metro,' and Embiid Busts Record

It’s the Friday News Roundup! Listen to hear about the Sixers’ Joel Embiid’s historic 70-point game, SEPTA's updated branding and new countdown clocks, and how you can protect yourself from predatory towing fees after a crash. City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri is joined by Ximena Conde, general assignment reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer, and O.J. Spivey, sports contributor at The Philadelphia Tribune.