🐴 City Council takes on animal cruelty

Council Bills Target Animal Cruelty

Councilmember Mark Squilla introduced a bill to ban horse-powered vehicles such as carriages and wagons out of concern that their popularity could increase around the semiquincentennial. And Councilmember Cindy Bass proposed a bill targeting restaurants serving foie gras, a dish that involves force-feeding ducks and geese to enlarge their livers. [KYW]

So, What’s Philly Tripping On?

Step inside a local smoke shop or gas station, and you’ll find a variety of hallucinogens being sold right over the counter in the form of chocolate bars and syrup shots. Many of these drugs are unregulated, and customers may not be aware of what they’re really consuming. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

Prison Visitation Programming at Risk of Shutting Down

The Philadelphia Prison Society needs to raise $600,000 after losing state funding so it can continue its transportation program, which enables those who cannot travel long distances to visit incarcerated loved ones. [🔒 The Inquirer]

• Related: Women serving time in Pennsylvania’s state prisons are aging faster as they battle chronic illnesses. [🎧City Cast Philly]

How To Find Someone Detained by ICE

Pennsylvania has at least seven facilities detaining immigrants arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the lack of a centralized detention system along with out-of-state transfers can make it difficult to find detainees. Here are tips on how to locate someone and advocate for them. [The Conversation]

• Related: Mayor Cherelle Parker recently signed six out of seven bills that would limit the city’s collaboration with ICE. [🎧 City Cast Philly]