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

May 17, 2022

2022 Election

John Fetterman wins Pa. Democratic primary for U.S. Senate days after stroke

by Michael Tanenbaum

John Fetterman is projected to win Pennsylvania's Democratic primary election for U.S. Senate. Fetterman's Republican opponent in November had not been determined by early Wednesday. The race will be pivotal as Republicans and Democrats battle for party control in Washington, D.C. Entering Tuesday's primary, polls showed Fetterman held a strong lead over Democratic opponents Connor Lamb, Malcolm Kenyatta and Alex Khalil.

May 17, 2022

Investigations

South Jersey police chief, found lying in the street, charged with drunk driving

by Michael Tanenbaum

Bordentown Chief of Police Brian Pesce, 46, was charged with drunk driving after he was found lying on the ground along a residential road in Hamilton Township in Mercer County on April 22. Body-worn camera footage shows officers investigating the scene. One of the officers said Pesce's pants were down and he appeared to have urinated next to his truck before going to the ground. Pesce, Bordentown's police chief since 2018, was placed on restricted duty amid and ongoing investigation.

May 17, 2022

2022 Election

Doug Mastriano cruises to win in Republican primary for governor, defeating large field of candidates

by Michael Tanenbaum

Doug Mastriano won the Republican primary for Pennsylvania governor. He will be the GOP candidate in November's general election facing Democrat Josh Shapiro. Mastriano was endorsed by former president Donald Trump. He state senator and veteran, he also is a far-right candidate who believes in a number of conspiracy theories, including the unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

May 16, 2022

Investigations

Woman, 63, fatally struck by erratic driver in Cape May

by Michael Tanenbaum

Cape May police are investigating a car crash that killed a 63-year-old woman Sunday on the Route 109 bridge. Authorities say the driver was driving erratically before the crash and also struck a utility pole and another vehicle before coming to a stop. The identity of the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was not released.

May 16, 2022

Investigations

Gunman in Buffalo supermarket massacre mentioned three New Jersey towns in manifesto

by Michael Tanenbaum

Payton Gendron, the 18-year-old man charged in Saturday afternoon's deadly shooting in Buffalo, allegedly wrote about his racial motivations for the attack in a manifesto that he shared online before the incident. Ten people were killed at the Buffalo market, all African-American, and three others were wounded. The document Gendron shared contained anti-Semitic references to three New Jersey communities — Lakewood, Toms River and Jersey City — with growing populations of Orthodox Jews.

May 16, 2022

Social Media

Lyft driver rejects ride for Lehigh County bar owner, boyfriend who made racist comments

by Michael Tanenbaum

The owner of Fossil's Last Stand, a bar in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, was kicked out of a Lyft driver's car after she made racist comments when she entered the vehicle for a ride in Catasauqua on Friday night. The driver, James Bode, shared a video of the incident on Facebook. The bar owner was identified as Jackie Harford. A man in the video who is heard threatening violence against Bode is reportedly Harford's boyfriend, police said.

May 16, 2022

2022 Election

John Fetterman seeks to build broad Pennsylvania coalition in U.S. Senate bid

by Michael Tanenbaum

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, is the front-runner in the May 17 primary. The former Braddock mayor is a progressive who has worked to connect with rural communities that supported former President Donald Trump in prior elections. Fetterman, who previously ran for Senate in 2016, has pushed for criminal justice reform, environmental justice and LGBTQ rights on the campaign trail.

May 14, 2022

2022 Election

Pennsylvania governor's race takes shape as test of state's political identity

by Michael Tanenbaum

The Pennsylvania's 2022 Republican primary on Tuesday, May 17, includes nine candidates. Doug Mastriano, Bill McSwain, Lou Barletta and Dave White are the frontrunners. Also appearing on the ballot will be Melissa Hart, Joseph Gale, Charles Gerow and Nche Zama. The winner will run against Josh Shapiro in November's election.

May 13, 2022

Children's Health

Why was South Philly's night sky purple on Thursday? For a young girl and the rare condition that took her life

by Michael Tanenbaum

The night sky in South Philadelphia had an otherworldly purple and pink color on Thursday, May 12. It was produced by lights from Lincoln Financial Field, one of several buildings and landmarks raising awareness for the Magical Mila Foundation. Mila Gray Roomberg died when she was 17 months due to a rare case of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 that caused her to have high blood pressure. Her parents' foundation now works with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to improve the frequency of blood pressure screenings among pediatric patients.

May 13, 2022

2022 Election

Carla Sands looks to leverage Trump ties in Pennsylvania race for U.S. Senate

by Michael Tanenbaum

Carla Sands, a Republican candidate for is running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, has sought to energize the base of former President Donald Trump. The businesswoman and former U.S. ambassador to Denmark views herself as an 'America First' conservative whose major campaign platform includes strengthening Pennsylvania's energy sector by promoting natural gas production.