💌 How to do Valentine’s Day in Philly

🎓 Free College for Low-Income Students

Temple University introduced the Temple Promise program last week, offering free tuition to eligible first-year, full-time students from low-income families in Philadelphia. Beginning this fall, the initiative covers in-state tuition and applicable fees, excluding housing and food expenses. [WHYY]

💼 Mayor Parker’s Picks

Mayor Cherelle Parker has announced key appointments to her administration, including a Chief Integrity Officer and the retention of a former deputy mayor. However, other agency commissioner positions remain unfilled, leading some employees to express frustration at the pace of hiring and a continued reliance on holdovers from the previous administration. [Inquirer]

• On Friday, the Parker Administration announced that it’s launching a nationwide search for a new Health Commissioner. [Philadelphia Department of Public Health]

🏞️ New Chapter Unfolds in Iconic South Philly Park

Marconi Plaza is getting an upgrade following a community engagement process that started back in 2022 led by Philly Parks & Recreation and the design firm Land Collective. The proposed improvements, organized into three phases, will enhance the park’s infrastructure, accessibility, and recreational offerings, including upgraded lighting, renovated playgrounds, and the activation of the elevated middle plaza as a civic space. [City of Philadelphia]

🏫 Charter School Closure Down to the Wire

The closure of Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School seems imminent, despite efforts by the school board, politicians, and charter sector players to find a last-minute solution. Without a resolution, the school is set to close in June. [Inquirer 🔒]

• Extra credit: Why is this charter school in danger of closing in the first place? [City Cast Philly 🎧]

I-95 Versus South Philly

Ah, the saga of I-95’s perpetual construction — feels like it’s been going on since the dinosaurs roamed, doesn’t it? Well, brace yourselves, because there’s more on the way. City Cast Philly host extraordinaire Trenae Nuri sits down with Inga Saffron, architecture columnist from The Philadelphia Inquirer, to delve into plans for this major roadway, and explain why some South Philly neighborhood groups are feeling antsy about the highway’s tendency to encroach upon homes and recreational spots.