🥵 Will extreme weather cancel July 4 fireworks?

City Officials To Get $750K With Loophole

Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. and City Representative Jazelle Jones are set to benefit from a loophole that allows them to briefly retire only to head back to work again, receiving payouts from the city’s retirement incentive program without actually ending their careers. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

Extreme Heat Could Ruin July 4 Plans

Temperatures are expected to exceed 95 degrees this week, with the humidity making it feel almost 110 degrees (you read that correctly). If that wasn’t bad enough, afternoon thunderstorms are forecasted for Saturday, which could mean rain on our Independence Day parade. [WHYY]

• Related: With the climate increasingly warming, here’s how the summer temps are impacting our health. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

Pennsylvania Voting Rights Get Day in Court

A federal district judge rejected the Department of Justice’s request for Pennsylvania’s unredacted voter information. The DOJ has not said whether it plans to appeal the decision. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering taking on a Pennsylvania case that tackles whether or not to toss out mail-in ballots missing a handwritten date on the outer return envelope. [Votebeat, PoliticsPA]

Olney Home at Center of Complex Investigation

Police are prepared to dig up the yards of an Olney residence for potential human remains as law enforcement investigates the owner’s connection to two women who have been missing for years. After Eugene Albert Horsh was arrested for illegal gun possession and drug crimes, a search of his home led to the discovery of chemical-filled drums, letters referencing serial killer Ted Bundy, and blood of unknown origin. [🔒The Inquirer]

You Can Thank Philly for This

As we gear up for July 4 celebrations, the Declaration of Independence may be the first thing that comes to mind. However, Philly is responsible for so much more, from iconic candies and toilet paper rolls to influential artists and scientific advancements. Here are the many ways our city has changed the world. [🔒 Philly Mag]

Walking around Independence National Historical Park, you may run into a man who looks like he just stepped out of the 18th century. Dressed in a dark jacket and white cravat, you’ll often find him greeting passersby or walking with his Bible. You likely just encountered Richard Allen, who founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Or at least, the man who’s portraying him.

Robert Branch, a first-person historical interpreter, has been playing Allen for about seven years. He previously depicted Octavius Catto, a 19th-century educator and civil rights activist. He’s one of several costumed History Makers at Historic Philadelphia Inc. who bring the city’s history to life through interactive storytelling. Here’s a glimpse into that experience.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How would you describe your role?

“The first-person interpreter researches the historical figure and then brings that figure to life from their perspective.

“Historic Philadelphia has a principle that when you share history, it has to number one, be real. It has to be factual. But more importantly, it has to be relevant to today … I try not to deal with triviality.

“I do focus on more what it was like to be an African American in the time frame of the [American] Revolution and Constitution, basically covering the years from 1760 until about 1830 … and the reality was most African Americans were enslaved and, by one way or another, managed to get freedom. But the thing I'm trying to communicate is that freedom is just the first step. Now, you want equality. It's not enough to be free. You want to be recognized as an equal human being.”

Where can we find you, and how long does each session last?

“On an ongoing basis, Tuesday through Saturday, I’m in one of three places: I’m in the Visitor Center; I’m behind Independence Hall; or I’m at Carpenters' Hall.

“Sometimes you'll speak to people, and they're very curious about you, and you give them a couple minutes, two minutes, five minutes … sometimes people really want to stay for 16, 20 minutes.”