(Photo by\u00a0@kslouf<\/a>)<\/p>\n
SEPTA has reached a tentative two-year contract agreement with Transportation Workers Union Local 234 following a weekend intervention by Gov. Josh Shapiro that got the two sides back to the bargaining table.<\/p>\n
The agreement averts a strike the union had said was \u201cimminent\u201d on Friday because negotiations over pensions and healthcare contributions had reached an impasse.\u00a0Continue reading \u2026<\/a><\/p>\n In \u201cThe Nice List,\u201d opening this week at the Bristol Riverside Theatre, Santa unexpectedly must leave town, so he deputizes two elves to finalize the nice list in time for delivery. But the two couldn\u2019t be more opposite. There\u2019s \u201cGumdrop,\u201d the nice elf, and \u201cRaisin,\u201d the naughty elf.<\/p>\n As the two work on the list, one\u00a0experiences a moral crisis.\u00a0Continue reading \u2026<\/a><\/p>\n RECAP: What else happened?<\/p>\n $ = paywalled<\/p>\n \u2022 Gov. Shapiro\u00a0filed a lawsuit to block HUD funding restrictions<\/a>\u00a0that specifically target trans and nonbinary people. [PGN]<\/p>\n \u2022 The U.S. Health and Human Services Dept.\u00a0changed the name of transgender health leader Admiral Rachel Levine\u00a0<\/a>\u2014 who was also Pa.\u2019s former health secretary \u2014 on her official portrait. [NPR]\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Pa. lawmakers received their automatic annual raise. Rank and file members now make $113,000.\u00a0Some want to change the practice<\/a>. [Capital-Star]<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0As the Trump administration moves away from solar energy, Philly\u00a0doubles down with new 20-year Abes Run deal<\/a>. [WHYY]\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0A\u00a0months-long construction project on I-76 West, also known as the Schuylkill Expressway, between 30th Street and the I-676 interchanges,\u00a0will lead to lane reductions and closures until June<\/a>. [NBC10]\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 The Library Company of Philadelphia, once founded by Benjamin Franklin,\u00a0will soon merge\u00a0to become part of Temple Libraries<\/a>. [Temple Now]<\/p>\n \u2022 The Eagles\u2019\u00a0troubles deepen with their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers<\/a>\u00a0last night. [CBS3]\u00a0<\/p>\n MAYOR WATCH<\/p>\n The mayor has no public events scheduled for today.<\/p>\n ON THE CALENDAR<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf84\u00a0Holiday lightings around Philly Tuesday to Weds, Dec. 9-10: Walnut West Library Friends\u2019 Huge Holiday Book Sale Wednesday, Dec. 10: \u201cWe Here\u201d documentary screening Wednesday, Dec. 10: 2025 Billy Penn\u2019s Billies Awards Wednesday, Dec. 10: McGillin\u2019s\u00a0Annual Toy Drive Wednesday, Dec. 10:\u00a0Growing Through Preservation: The Economic Impact of Historic Preservation in Philadelphia Wednesday, Dec. 10: \u201cShow Off\u201d at Theatre Exile\u00a0 Wednesday, Dec. 10:\u00a0Gingerbread House Decorating\u2013 for adults! Thursday, Dec. 11:\u00a0T\u00eate-\u00e0-T\u00eate Film Screening at Carpenters\u2019 Hall Thursday, Dec. 11:\u00a0Dinner with King Tut Friday, Dec. 12: Philly Fights Hunger gallery and silent auction benefit Friday, Dec. 12:\u00a0AWFUL Wrestling: Spectacular Holiday Spectacle 2 Saturday, Dec. 13:\u00a0AWFUL Wrestling: A Murder Mystery Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 13-14:\u00a0A Philly Holiday Spectacular Through Jan. 5:\u00a0One-Man Nutcracker by Chris Davis \t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/08-25-2025-k-paynter-SEPTA-cuts-reax-in-South-Philly-3.jpg\")
Commuters board a northbound 32 bus on Broad Street at Christian Street on Aug. 25, 2025. (Kimberly Paynter\/WHYY)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Michelle-Dowdy-Diana-Huey.jpg\")
Michelle Dowdy (left) and Diana Huey play elves Raisin and Gumdrop, respectively, in \u201cThe Nice List,\u201d which opens Dec. 9 at Bristol Riverside Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Rayna Adams, Bristol Riverside Theatre)<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfc3\ud83c\udffd Philly Runners Guide<\/a>
\ud83c\udf9e\ufe0f\u00a0Ongoing: The Declaration\u2019s Journey\u00a0\u2014 Available on\u00a0the WHYY YouTube Channel<\/a>. New episodes will appear every two weeks.<\/p>\n
The annual fundraiser for library programs and repairs presents\u00a0a large selection of gift-quality used children\u2019s books as well as general fiction and nonfiction for the grownups. Prices range from $1.00 to $3.00. This year, large collections of math books and classical music LPs will also be available!\u00a0At 40th and Walnut<\/a>. (12 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mural Arts Philadelphia will host a public screening and Q&A of the documentary film for their We Here project, which took place in 2023 and 2024. Documentary filmmaker Gustavo Garcia of Colibri Workshop, Kensington artist Roberto Lugo, and Community Advisory Council members Brenda Mosley and John Walsh will be on hand for a discussion following the screening.\u00a0Free at the PMA<\/a>. (3 to 5 p.m.)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Join us for a night of celebration at WHYY where we applaud the movers and shakers who make our city shine. From community leaders to artists, activists to entrepreneurs, we\u2019ll recognize those who embody the spirit of the City of Brotherly Love. Don\u2019t miss out on this special in-person event where we come together to showcase the incredible talent and dedication that make Philly great. And did we mention, food and drink are free?\u00a0Free with RSVP<\/a>. (5:30 to 7 p.m.)\u00a0<\/p>\n
A festive night filled with seasonal brews, holiday food specials, giveaways, and photos with Santa, the toy drive directly benefits families served by the Ronald McDonald Houses of the Philadelphia Region.\u00a0Click here for details<\/a>. (6 to 9 p.m.)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Join UCHS at The Rotunda to learn about the recent study on historic preservation impacts in Philly.\u00a0Free<\/a>. (6 to 7:30 p.m.)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Set in 1920, in working-class North Philadelphia, this comedy tracks a family thrown into chaos by their daughter\u2019s suitor, a pseudo-socialist buffoon. Show Off became a theatrical sensation as one of the first plays to depict the new American middle class. The playwright\u2019s teenaged niece, Grace Kelly, made her stage debut in the show\u2019s premiere.\u00a0Call about tickets<\/a>. (6:30 p.m.)<\/p>\n
Nut-free event at Bloomsday in Headhouse Square.\u00a0$68.25+tax ticket price<\/a>\u00a0includes one gingerbread house, and each person must decorate their own. (6:30 p.m.)<\/p>\n
Part of Year of the Spy commemorative festivities.\u00a0The film\u00a0depicts a reenactment of the secret meetings held between French spy Julien-Alexandre Achard de Bonvouloir and Benjamin Franklin on the second floor of Carpenters\u2019 Hall.\u00a0$5 ticket<\/a>. (5 to 7:30 p.m.)\u00a0<\/p>\n
What does history taste like? How about the smell? Sound and touch?\u00a0Join author Sam Kean in an archaeological experience like no other.\u00a0Free in-person or online<\/a>. (5 to 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
An art show to support Philabundance<\/a>! 30+ tattoo artists from across Philly create according to the theme of skateboard decks! Every artist participating will be donating a hand painted board with their personal flair. All proceeds from the silent auction goes to help hungry neighbors. At Forin Cafe. (7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
The first of two consecutive nights of holiday wrestling at PhilaMOCA.\u00a0$30.25 tickets<\/a>. (8 p.m.)<\/p>\n
The second of two nights at PhilaMOCA.\u00a0$30.25 tickets<\/a>. (8 p.m.)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sung by Broadway stars and returning Philly favorites Nikki Ren\u00e9e Daniels & Jeff Kready, with extra festive special guests.\u00a0At Marian Anderson Hall<\/a>. (3 p.m. Saturday; 7:30 p.m. Sunday)\u00a0<\/p>\n
What if the ballet was performed by only one man? If the daughter Marie, little boy Fritz, creepy uncle Drosselmeyer, the mice, the Sugar Plum fairy, were all channeled through one actor. Various times.\u00a0$17.85+ tickets.<\/a><\/p>\n