🚍 SEPTA buses are getting a bulletproof upgrade

🏟️ Trump Order Prompts New State Rules on Trans Athletes

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association approved a new policy that could limit the participation of transgender athletes in high school sports. To align with language in President Trump’s executive order, the policy defers to principals to determine a student’s “sex” as opposed to “gender.” The School District of Philadelphia released a statement stating it will ignore the change and follow its own policies. The number of trans student athletes is believed to be small. [WHYY, 🔒 The Inquirer]

🏀 ‘Mr. Big 5’ To Retire From Coaching

La Salle’s head basketball coach, Fran Dunphy, announced plans to retire after the 2024-2025 season. Dunphy, who will continue to teach at the university, is the only coach to oversee multiple Philadelphia Big 5 programs, having led teams at Penn, Temple, and La Salle and amassing over 600 victories in his career. [NBC10]

🚌 Bulletproof Buses To Join SEPTA Fleet

SEPTA is fortifying its bus lines with cockpits for operators that have bulletproof glass. The changes are in response to demands from Transport Workers Union Local 234 after an increase in violence against drivers – notably the 2023 shooting death of operator Bernard N. Gribbin. A Bucks County SWAT team will fire onto a prototype to test its durability. [🔒The Inquirer]

🚰 Water Department Wants To Raise Your Bill…Again

Despite the Philadelphia Water Department hiking its rate this past September, the utility company is now pursuing a combined 20% rate increase. This change could make bills for the average household go from $81.77-per-month to $98.74-per-month. [Hall Monitor]

Philly’s Hunting Park neighborhood may get its name from the public space at the heart of it, but the neighborhood is active beyond its namesake green space.

The area was a hunting ground that was part of James Logan's estate, Stenton, according to Philly Voice. A former Philadelphia mayor and secretary to the Penn family, Logan hunted in the large tract of land that’s used as recreation space today.

As the habitat evolved, so did the uses for the green space. Hunting Park was once home to the Allen’s Racecourse, where celebrated racehorses competed against each other. In the 1930s, the site had a music pavilion and merry-go-round. Today’s athletic fields are set on top of a former lake.

The neighborhood’s boundaries are roughly north of Sedgley Avenue, east of the former SEPTA R7 line, south of Roosevelt Boulevard, and west of Front Street, according to the Hunting Park Neighborhood Advisory Committee.

Here’s what you can find in Philly’s Hunting Park neighborhood:

🧁 Food & Drink

Tierra Colombiana has been a staple of the 5th Street corridor for over 30 years. Diners can enjoy its chicken soup, churrasco Colombiano, and bandeja tipica from its extensive menu. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and brings to the table a variety of Latin American flavors.

K Cafe’s corner spot offers quick bites and full Vietnamese meals. I recommend the black tiger boba milk tea and the rice platter combo (which includes an appetizer and smoothie, all for $20). During the colder months, the restaurant serves customers through a takeout window, but in the spring and summer, the owners set up an outdoor dining area with floral decor.

Have brunch with the besties at Cray Taste. The restaurant, which also has a location in Old City, serves breakfast classics like chicken-and-waffles and steak-and-eggs. Seafood lovers can get either fried whiting, salmon, or lamb with cheddar cheese grits, cajun shrimp and crab meat. Seafood lovers can get either fried whiting, salmon, or lamb with cheddar cheese grits, cajun shrimp, and crab meat. Feeling hungry toward the evening? Cray Taste also has a dinner menu -- and vegan options.

If you’re craving something sugary, Ciddiany’s has something for you. The pretty pink bakery sells delights like cheesecake, tres leche cake, and passionfruit mousse. You can also order a custom cake for a special occasion.