Michael Tanenbaum

Michael Tanenbaum is a senior staff writer for PhillyVoice.com, with interests ranging from technology and behavioral health to local community initiatives and cultural life. Michael has written for the Argentina Independent and Bespoke Magazine and previously served as a news editor for Xfinity.com before joining PhillyVoice. He received his B.A. in The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University.

tanenbaum@phillyvoice.com

January 30, 2026

Courts

N.J. appeals court upholds decision to dismiss racketeering charges against George Norcross, 5 others

by Michael Tanenbaum

A New Jersey appellate court will not reinstate racketeering charges against George E. Norcross III and five codefendants who had been accused running a criminal enterprise to wield influence and secure development projects Camden waterfront.

January 29, 2026

Investigations

Woman charged with pepper-spraying conservative influencer on SEPTA bus

by Michael Tanenbaum

Paulina Reyes, 22, faces multiple charges related to a Jan. 19 altercation in which she pepper-sprayed conservative influencer Frank Scales on a SEPTA bus in South Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said.

January 29, 2026

Government

Philly airport installs new biometric tech to speed up inspections of U.S. citizens returning from abroad

by Michael Tanenbaum

Philadelphia International Airport now has biometric facial comparison technology that will be used to expedite arrivals for U.S. citizens returning to the country from abroad.

January 29, 2026

Courts

Estate of Bloomsburg University student who died after fraternity hazing event awarded $7.8 million

by Michael Tanenbaum

The estate of Justin King, a Bloomsburg University student who fell to his death following a fraternity rush event in 2019, was awarded $7.8 million by a jury in Luzerne County. King, who grew up in Montgomery County, fell down a 75-foot embankment after a night of heavy drinking.

January 29, 2026

Wildlife

Lincoln, the eagle who soars at Birds games, went from picking through trash to starring in a Super Bowl commercial

by Michael Tanenbaum

A Budweiser Super Bowl commercial will feature Lincoln, the bald eagle that flies at Philadelphia Eagles home games. The American Eagle Foundation and a team of Clydesdale trainers helped get the animals to work together for the ad.

January 28, 2026

Business

Breeze Airways adds service out of Atlantic City International Airport

by Michael Tanenbaum

Breeze Airways will begin service out of Atlantic City International Airport this spring, becoming the third airline to offer year-round flights from the airport in South Jersey. Breeze will debut flights to Charleston, Raleigh-Durham, and Tampa.

January 27, 2026

Business

Amazon to close all Fresh grocery stores, including one in Northern Liberties that opened in August

by Michael Tanenbaum

Amazon plans to close all of its Amazon Fresh grocery stores in the United States, including six in the Philadelphia region, as the company expands its Whole Foods Markets and invests in more grocery delivery service.

January 27, 2026

Weather

What to do when it's so cold: Fun science tricks to try during upcoming deep freeze

by Michael Tanenbaum

The Philadelphia region could record its coldest temperatures since 1994 this week with lows of 2 to 3 degrees and wind chills between zero and minus 10. Here are some fun science experiments to try during the deep freeze.

January 26, 2026

Technology

Pa., N.J. attorneys general join push to halt nonconsensual sexual deepfakes on Grok

by Michael Tanenbaum

The attorneys general of Pennsylvania and New Jersey have joined the push to stop the AI chatbot Grok — owned by billionaire Elon Musk's X platform — from generating unauthorized, deepfake sexual images.

January 26, 2026

Arts & Culture

James Ijames' latest play, 'Good Bones,' turns Sixers arena saga into allegory on gentrification

by Michael Tanenbaum

Pulitzer Prize-winner James Ijames' 'Good Bones,' playing at Arden Theater Co., examines questions on gentrification inspired by Philadelphia's contentious battle over the Sixers' abandoned plan to build a new arena in Center City.