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

October 25, 2023

Lawsuits

Pennsylvania, New Jersey join federal lawsuit alleging Facebook, Instagram harm children's mental health

by Michael Tanenbaum

A federal lawsuit claims Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, designed its social media platforms to be addictive for children and teenagers. Forty-one states have joined lawsuits alleging Meta deliberately misled the public about the mental health dangers its products posed to young people, downplaying its own internal research in order to prioritize growth. Pennsylvania and New Jersey have joined the lawsuit.

October 24, 2023

Lawsuits

Penn student died from drinking Panera's 'Charged Lemonade,' lawsuit says

by Michael Tanenbaum

Panera Bread's highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade drink contributed to the death of 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student Sarah Katz, her family claims in a wrongful death lawsuit. Katz drank the beverage on Sept. 10, 2022 and went into cardiac arrest hours later. She had a condition that made her heart vulnerable to high amounts of caffeine, but her family says Panera failed to properly label the drink at the West Philly store where Katz bought it.

October 24, 2023

Food & Drink

Pennsylvania residents can join lotteries for 4,429 rare whiskey bottles

by Michael Tanenbaum

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is holding another round of limited-release lotteries for rare whiskey bottles. The five lotteries include 4,429 bottles of whiskey, including Blanton's Gold Straight Bourbon and Blanton's Gold Straight Bourbon. Pennsylvania residents of legal drinking age can enter the lotteries until 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27.

October 18, 2023

Entertainment

Pete Davidson to perform two stand-up sets at Rivers Casino

by Michael Tanenbaum

Former "Saturday Night Live" star Pete Davidson will perform two stand-up comedy sets at Rivers Casino Philadelphia on Nov. 25. The shows will be at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Oct. 20. Davidson was an "SNL" cast member from 2014-2022 and returned last weekend to host the debut of the show's 49th season.

October 18, 2023

Phillies

Eagles' Terrell Edmunds predicted Kyle Schwarber homer from behind the plate

by Michael Tanenbaum

Eagles safety Terrell Edmunds and running back D'Andre Swift were sitting behind home plate for the Phillies' 10-0 win over the Diamondbacks in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. A video clip from the third inning shows Edmunds telling Swift that Kyle Schwarber was about to hit a home run. Moments later, Schwarber hit his first solo shot of the night.

October 17, 2023

Illness

Prozac could help treat long COVID symptoms, Penn researchers say

by Michael Tanenbaum

For people with long COVID, the antidepressant Prozac could be used to help address mental symptoms like brain fog and memory problems, according to new research out of the University of Pennsylvania. The study found that many people with long COVID have depleted levels of serotonin, which regulates mood and other important functions. Researchers believe remnants of the coronavirus that remain in the body can impair the body's ability to produce serotonin.

October 17, 2023

Investigations

Police are searching for man who sexually assaulted 2 women at gunpoint in West Philly last weekend

by Michael Tanenbaum

Philadelphia police are investigating two sexual assaults that happened in West Philadelphia on Oct. 14 and Oct. 15. In both cases, women said they were approached by an armed man who demanded money before assaulting them, police said. Investigators believe the same man is responsible for both assaults.

October 17, 2023

Investigations

Terrell Owens hit by car after dispute over pickup basketball game

by Michael Tanenbaum

Terrell Owens was struck by a car Monday night in Calabasas, California after he allegedly was involved in a dispute with another man during a pickup basketball game on Monday night, authorities said. Owens was not injured. Police are investigating whether the man driving the car deliberately struck the former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver.

October 16, 2023

Wildlife

Report of possible mountain lion near Allentown turns out to be feral house cat, officials say

by Michael Tanenbaum

Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Game Commission have determined an animal spotted in Lower Macungie Township on Sunday was a feral house cat, not a mountain lion. Authorities searched the area and recreated photos submitted to police using life-sized cutouts of a house cat, a bobcat and a mountain lion. They determined the animal was just a house cat. Bobcats are the only surviving wild cat species native to Pennsylvania, but it's possible for large cats held in captivity to get loose or be released by their owners.

October 16, 2023

Education

Penn was too slow to condemn Palestine Writes speakers who have espoused antisemitism, President Magill says

by Michael Tanenbaum

University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill responded to mounting backlash over Penn's handling of the Palestine Writes Literature Festival, which included speakers with antisemitic histories. After Hamas attacked Israel, some Penn alumni, donors and trustees called for Magill and others to resign. Magill said Penn 'should have moved faster' to condemn antisemitism.