{"id":261577,"date":"2026-08-08T11:14:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/261577\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:14:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:14:41","slug":"school-selection-process-americas-first-zoo-11th-street-station-closure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/261577\/","title":{"rendered":"School selection process; America’s first zoo; 11th Street Station closure"},"content":{"rendered":"

#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY<\/p>\n

Hands up
(Photo by\u00a0@karenbenson.eyeful<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The \u201cFind Your Fit\u201d process allows students from pre-K through 11th grade the chance to attend schools outside of assigned neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

Starting Sept. 8 at 4 p.m., the \u201cFind Your Fit\u201d process will allow students currently in pre-kindergarten through the 11th grade the chance to attend a school outside their assigned neighborhood, if space is available.\u00a0\u00a0Continue reading\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Students at Bluford Elementary School, along with the rest of the school district, will no longer be restricted from recess, bathroom access and water breaks after the board approved a new wellness policy. (Cory Sharber\/WHYY)<\/p>\n

Zoos are everywhere today. But back in 1874, America only had one: the Philadelphia Zoo.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania initially gave the go-ahead for the zoo in 1859, but the Civil War got in the way and delayed it\u2019s opening for more than a decade. Now, the zoo is celebrating its founding and more than a 150 years of history with a firstival celebration.\u00a0Continue reading\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"(Philadelphia Zoo, ca. 1920. Courtesy of the Library Company of Philadelphia, via Wikimedia Commons.)<\/p>\n

RECAP: What else happened?<\/p>\n

$ = paywalled<\/p>\n

\u2022 Data center wars hit the ballot box, where Pennsylvania voters angry about rising electricity bills\u00a0have turned the fight over powering AI into a defining issue of the state\u2019s 2026 elections<\/a>. [Capital & Main]\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0SEPTA \u2018s 11th Street Station\u00a0will close for a year, starting Sept. 5, to install new elevators from Market Street and make other station upgrades<\/a>. The underground concourse connecting stations at 11th, 13th and Jefferson Stations also will be closed. [PhillyVoice]<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0With one in six Philadelphia children at risk,\u00a0local groups expand hunger relief efforts<\/a>. [Tribune]<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Philadelphia kids are getting suspended from preschool.\u00a0Parents and advocates want to put an end to it<\/a>. [Chalkbeat]<\/p>\n

\u2022 A Mt. Airy activist\u00a0filed a lawsuit against the district in June over its school closure\/merger plan<\/a>. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 24. [Chestnut Hill Local]\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Grow Philly:\u00a010 Black-owned small businesses to know in Philadelphia<\/a>. [Technical.ly]<\/p>\n

MAYOR WATCH<\/p>\n

Mayor Parker will attend the 3rd annual Samuel Staten Sr. Pre-Apprenticeship Program graduation ceremony at 1301 S. Columbus Blvd. (6:30 p.m.)<\/p>\n

Who let the cats out? A catwalk through Philly\u2019s Cedar Park neighborhood<\/a>
The Philadelphia region has a higher than average cat population compared to other metro areas. Many of those felines reside in West Philly\u2019s Cedar Park.<\/p>\n

Your guide to Philly\u2019s comedy scene<\/a>
Whether you\u2019re looking for an improv show, comedy classes or the bigger headliners, here\u2019s a guide.<\/p>\n

ON THE CALENDAR<\/p>\n

The\u00a021st annual Danny Rumph Classic at Drexel\u00a0(all weekend),\u00a0
the\u00a0Fishtown Forks Block Party\u00a0(Saturday),\u00a0
the\u00a011th annual Philadelphia Women\u2019s Theatre Festival\u00a0kicks off,\u00a0
AND MORE<\/a>!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Send us events to add to the **FULL LIST** of this week\u2019s events calendar at\u00a0BillyPenn.com<\/a>!<\/p>\n

BILLY PENN GUIDES<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfd9\ufe0f\u00a0Billy Penn City Guide<\/a>
\u270a\ud83c\udffe\u00a0Black history in Philly guide<\/a>
\ud83c\udf66\u00a0Vegan ice cream guide\u00a0<\/a>
\ud83c\udf3d CSA farmshare guide<\/a>
\ud83d\udedd\u00a0Kid-friendly summer guide<\/a>
\u2615\u00a0Philly coffee guide<\/a>
\ud83d\udeb6\ud83c\udffd\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\u00a0Alt Philly history walking tours guide<\/a>
\ud83c\udf31\u00a0Spring in Philly guide<\/a>
\ud83c\udfad\u00a0Philly\u2019s comedy scene<\/a>
\ud83c\udfa4\u00a0Philly Record Store Guide<\/a>
\ud83d\udecd\ufe0f\u00a0Thrifty in Philly guide<\/a>
\ud83d\udcda\u00a0Book lovers\u2019 guide to Philly<\/a>
\ud83c\udf79\u00a0Non-alcoholic Philly<\/a>
\ud83d\ude0b\u00a0Dining in Philly<\/a>
\ud83c\udfc3\ud83c\udffd\u00a0Philly Runners Guide<\/a><\/p>\n

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