⚾ Why is Philly still using toxic turf?

🇺🇸 Parker to Attend State of the Union

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) has invited Mayor Cherelle Parker to listen to President Joe Biden deliver the annual address on Thursday night. [Inquirer 🔒]

🧑‍⚖️ ‘Meatball’ Will Go on Trial

Social media influencer Dayjia Blackwell — AKA "Meatball" — is scheduled to appear in court on March 18. She faces charges including criminal conspiracy, criminal mischief, and disorderly conduct from when she live-streamed herself at the scene of several store lootings in September. [NBC10]

• The lootings happened at the same time people were gathering in Center City to protest after a judge dismissed charges in the police killing of Eddie Irizarry Jr. Here’s a recap of the situation. [City Cast Philly 🎧]

⚽ Union Considering Stadium Expansion

Leaders of Philly’s Major League Soccer team are exploring the possibility of adding more seating to Suburu Park in Chester. The 18,500-seat stadium was sold out for every match last season, per an executive. [Business Journal 🔒]

Bus Stop Shooting Leaves Teen Dead, Injures 4 Others

Imhotep Institute Charter High School canceled classes on Tuesday as the community mourned Dayemen Taylor, a 17-year-old student who died Monday afternoon after two people shot at him and other students at a bus stop near the school. Two other students from the school were also wounded, along with two women on a SEPTA bus. [6ABC]

Welcome back to “Where Is It?” Wednesday, when I share a piece of public art and ask you to tell me the location (by memory, i.e. without looking it up online).

Last week’s piece was submitted by Hey Philly reader Kavya U.:

This mural can be found at West Thompson and North Front streets in Fishtown, painted on the building behind the bar Kung Fu Necktie. It appears to have been created to honor David William Bradburn, a musician, composer, and horticulturist who passed away in 2019.

Congrats to Hey Philly reader Suril S. for guessing the location exactly.

For this week’s challenge, I’d like for you to tell me where you can find this mural, which I spotted on a recent reporting adventure:

Send me an email with your guess of where you can find these animals, or submit your answer here! Be sure to tell me the street names, or the neighborhood along with a place or landmark on the same block.

Why Is Philly Still Using Toxic Turf?

More than a dozen ballfields in Philadelphia use artificial turf, and the city has multimillion dollar plans to add more. But that material contains toxic chemicals — among them PFAS — which are linked to certain types of cancer. City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri speaks with David Gambacorta and Barbara Laker, investigative reporters with The Philadelphia Inquirer, about the risks of fake turf and why Philly is still using it.