🔥 SEPTA’s bad luck persists with bus depot fire

🚌 SEPTA in Flames (Literally and Figuratively)

A Regional Rail train caught fire in Levittown this week just months after train fire in Ridley Park, and then yesterday morning dozens of decommissioned buses went up in flames in Nicetown. Life imitates art but I didn’t expect SEPTA to take that so literally. [NBC10]

• Related: Speaking of SEPTA’s many woes, on City Cast Philly’s Friday News Roundup, Trenae and Matt talk about how time’s running out to fix SEPTA’s money troubles and what politicians are saying (or not saying) about the transit crisis. Plus, they take a look at the new bike lane lawsuit in Center City and share reader thoughts on the issue. Also, did you know Philly has coyotes? [🎧 City Cast Philly]

🗑️ Hot Garbage Summer?

While there hasn’t been an outward announcement of a potential garbage strike, AFSCME District Council 33 still hasn’t signed a new contract with the city. And with the union’s social media account posting throwback pics of a 1986 strike with mounted piles of garbage, we wonder if this means desperate times call for desperate measures (again). [🔒 Philly Mag]

🌐 More Philly Teens Are Being Tracked and No Warrants Are Needed for Their Data

While the rate of teenagers being prosecuted or put on probation has gone down, the use of ankle monitors has gone up. The city now leases 400 ankle monitors for teens and has increased its spending on GPS tracking to $1.27 million. Teens in fear of a probation violation or the embarrassment of wearing a chunky monitor say they switched to online learning. They also say the monitors can falsely indicate they were somewhere other than home or school. [🔒 The Inquirer]

🎸 ‘Sinners’ Star Learned Blues Thanks to Tutelage of North Philly Guitarist

If you missed watching “Sinners” in theaters, the latest Ryan Coogler film was released on streaming platforms this week. Hollywood’s rising star Miles Caton, who plays the protagonist blues prodigy Sammie Moore, learned how to play guitar just for the role. And a skilled musician from Philadelphia helped to make that happen. [Philadelphia Citizen]

Visitors to Wissahickon Valley Park were surprised to spot coyotes there. Turns out that although we don’t see them too often, they do reside in the park along with other forest friends.

Are you the Steve Irwin of Philadelphia? Submit your answer and find out!