🏛️ Diversity targets get the axe

💸 Fees for Philly Festivals, Unless You’re…

Fees for city services for events are seeing a sharp increase, thanks in large part to growing police overtime costs, but an Inquirer investigation found that not all events pay their fair share. Events that have been exempt from fees include a police nonprofit fundraiser, some ethnic parades, and Wawa’s Fourth of July fireworks. [🔒 The Inquirer]

🏛️ Mayor Ends Diversity Targets for City Contracts

Amid the federal backlash against DEI, the city is no longer aiming to have 35% of city contracts go to businesses owned by women, minorities, and disabled people. City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz dig into what this means — and talk about other head-scratching news from the week that was — on today’s Friday News Roundup. [🔒 The Inquirer. 🎧 City Cast Philly]

🏘️ Council Delays Vote on Mayor’s Housing Initiative

Council members may now vote on Monday on the first phase of Mayor Parker’s H.O.M.E. plan, which aims to provide housing resources for middle- and low-income families. Some council members have said the plan should better prioritize people most in need. [KYW]

🥁 Transforming Trash Into Instruments

Brazilian musician Dendê Macêdo gives new life to junked items by recycling them into musical instruments, like a bass guitar from a MacBook box and a xylophone from a tire and wind chimes. See his band, Dendê & Band, play at City Winery on Sunday. [WHYY]

This week on City Cast Philly, we talked about a research project focused on identifying World War I veterans from the storied Roman Catholic High School. Now, test how much you know about local military history in today’s quiz.

Give it a try!