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

December 20, 2022

Lawsuits

Parents of Pennsylvania girl, whose hair got tangled in Chuck E. Cheese ticket machine, file lawsuit in Scranton

by Michael Tanenbaum

The parents of a Pennsylvania whose hair got caught in a Chuck E. Cheese's ticket machine have sued the Bucks County company that manufactured the equipment. The incident happened at the restaurant in Wilkes-Barre in 2019. The lawsuit names Chalfont-based Deltronic Labs as the defendant and seeks punitive damages. The girl's frightening experience in Pennsylvania is one of several similar incidents that have happened at Chuck E. Cheese's locations in the United States in recent years.

December 20, 2022

Investigations

Man charged with hurling Molotov cocktails at Northeast Philly homes

by Michael Tanenbaum

Jason Mattis, 49, is charged with throwing Molotov cocktails at three homes in the Tacony section of Northeast Philly on June 30 and July 1, 2022, according to federal prosecutors. One of the incidents was captured on video and shared by Philadelphia police over the summer. Mattis is charged with three counts of possession of an unregistered destructive device. He made an initial court appearance on Dec. 15 and remains held pending further action in federal court.

December 20, 2022

Podcast

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie reflects on risk, ridicule for buying team for $185 million in 1994

by Michael Tanenbaum

Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie appears on Bloomberg's Business of Sports podcast on Tuesday and reflects on his decision to buy the team in 1994. Lurie, 71, paid $185 million for the NFL franchise that year and since then Eagles' value has risen to $4.9 billion. The podcast offers a rare window into Lurie's philosophy as an NFL owner in the nearly three decades since he began building one of the most consistent organizations in the NFL.

December 19, 2022

Investigations

Upper Merion cop shoots man who allegedly opened fire during police chase at King of Prussia Mall

by Michael Tanenbaum

Andrew Wiley, 27, of Philadelphia, has been charged with attempted homicide of a police officer after he allegedly opened fire on a cop on Sunday, Dec. 18 in a parking lot at the King of Prussia Mall. Wiley allegedly attempted to flee the scene of a hit-and-run crash. An Upper Merion police officer shot Wiley in the thigh and ankle before taking him into custody. There were no other injuries reported.

December 19, 2022

Government

Fighter jet seen over Philly area escorted another plane out of restricted airspace

by Michael Tanenbaum

An F-15 fighter jet that was seen and heard Monday morning in the Philadelphia area was sent by the North American Aerospace Defense Command to intercept a civilian plane that had entered restricted airspace. President Joe Biden was in Delaware on Monday morning around the time the fighter jet was seen in the sky. Incidents like this are fairly common and usually result from pilot error.

December 19, 2022

Development

Lidl supermarket planned for apartment complex in North Philly

by Michael Tanenbaum

Developers broke ground this month on a seven-story apartment building slated for the corner of Broad Street and Girard Avenue, where a longstanding CVS Pharmacy was demolished to make way for the new project.

December 16, 2022

Courts

Ex-Philly homicide detective sentenced to prison for sexual abuse of witnesses, informants

by Michael Tanenbaum

Philip Nordo, a former Philadelphia homicide detective, was sentenced to 24 1/2 to 49 years in prison following his June conviction for sexual assault, rape official oppression and related offenses. Nordo was a 20-year veteran of the police department and was fired in 2017. Nordo used his position of power to intimidate male witnesses and groom them for sexual acts, prosecutors said.

December 16, 2022

Technology

Pennsylvania's first self-driving shuttle to be tested at Navy Yard in South Philly

by Michael Tanenbaum

A self-driving shuttle service that connects the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia to SEPTA's NRG Station and Broad Street Line, will be tested by Drexel University researches in 2023. The self-driving shuttle, the first in Pennsylvania, holds nine passengers and a wheelchair. Its technology was developed by Virginia-based Perrone Robotics.

December 16, 2022

Development

Insurance firm Chubb to anchor new 18-story office building in Center City

by Michael Tanenbaum

Global insurance firm Chubb will become the anchor tenant of a new 18-story office tower planned at 2000 Arch St. in Center City. The $430 million project, expected to break ground in February 2023, will be the company's largest office building in North America and will be home to about 3,200 employees, including 1,250 new positions. The site, which will be developed in partnership with Parkway Corporation, is currently a surface parking lot. The project has a target completion date in spring 2026.

December 15, 2022

Investigations

Husband allegedly killed, dismembered missing Sellersville woman

by Michael Tanenbaum

Stephen Capaldi has been charged with homicide in the death of his wife, 55-year-old Elizabeth Capaldi, who was last seen alive at the couple's Sellersville home on Oct. 10. She was reported missing by her family two days later. Bucks County prosecutors say Stephen Capaldi, 57, strangled Elizabeth and dismembered her body the next day before disposing of some remains in a dumpster. Other remains were found last week after Capaldi was taken into custody and led police to Hog Island in Tinicum Township, near the Philadelphia airport.