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

August 16, 2024

2024 Election

First debate between Kamala Harris, Donald Trump to be held at National Constitution Center

by Michael Tanenbaum

Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will debate for the first time on Sept. 10 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. ABC News will broadcast the debate at 9 p.m. It will be moderated by "World News Tonight" anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis.

August 15, 2024

Courts

Extortion charges against ex-labor union leader John Dougherty are dismissed

by Michael Tanenbaum

Federal prosecutors will not retry the extortion case against John Dougherty, the former union boss sentenced to 6 years in prison last month after being convicted of embezzlement and bribery in other cases. The extortion trial ended with hung jury in April. Dougherty's nephew, who also had been charged, will now be retried on his own, prosecutors said Thursday.

August 15, 2024

Education

Abington School District joins growing push to restrict students' use of cell phones in class

by Michael Tanenbaum

Abington School District has adopted new rules restricting students from using their cell phones during the school day. The district in Montgomery County joins a growing number of schools around the country that have banned or greatly limited access to smartphones in the classroom. Advocates of such policies say restricting cell phone use can improve learning and support students' mental health.

August 14, 2024

Food & Drink

Santucci's Pizza plans three new restaurants in South Jersey and one in University City

by Michael Tanenbaum

Santucci's Original Square Pizza, the pizzeria that started in Northeast Philadelphia, will open three more shops in New Jersey in Cherry Hill, Deptford and Brigantine. There also is a location planned for University City in Philadelphia. Santucci's is known for it's square pizzas made with the sauce on top of the cheese.

August 13, 2024

Transportation

SEPTA says parking fees at Regional Rail lots and garages will be phased in starting Sept. 23

by Michael Tanenbaum

SEPTA will reinstate parking fees at its 96 surface lots and three garages after Regional Rail riders were given a four-year break with free parking. The fees will be collected using a new mobile payment system that replaces coin slot boxes. They will be phased in between Sept. 23 and Nov. 15.

August 13, 2024

Wildlife

Rare butterfly, found only on a Pa. military base, could join federal list of endangered species

by Michael Tanenbaum

The eastern regal fritillary, a rare butterfly species that only exists at the Fort Indiantown Gap military base in Pennsylvania, is under threat of extinction and needs to be added to the federal list of endangered species to survive, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.

August 13, 2024

Music

Philadelphia Eagles players are working on third Christmas album, Lane Johnson says

by Michael Tanenbaum

Some Philadelphia Eagles players are back in the studio record a third album of Christmas songs. Lane Johnson confirmed he and Jordan Mailata, along with recently retired lineman Jason Kelce, collectively known as the Philly Specials, are at work on more holiday music to follow the popular charity releases they put out in each of the last two years.

August 12, 2024

Investigations

Three dead in murder-suicide at Bucks County home, district attorney says

by Michael Tanenbaum

After receiving a report of shots fired Monday morning at a home in Buckingham Township, investigators determined three people died in a murder-suicide, Bucks County prosecutors said. Steven Chow, 59, killed his son, Raymond Chow, 21, and wife, Amy Troung, 63, while they were in their beds before shooting himself, police said.

August 12, 2024

Transportation

SEPTA fixes tech outage that prevented riders from buying tickets or reloading Key cards

by Michael Tanenbaum

SEPTA riders spent much of Monday unable to buy train tickets or reload their Key cards because of technical issues affecting the transit authority's website, kiosks and on-board purchasing systems. The outage has since been fixed, spokesperson Andrew Busch said.

August 12, 2024

Real Estate

This Fishtown church that predates Civil War was converted into a home and workspace 20 years ago

by Michael Tanenbaum

Fishtown's former Siloam Methodist Church at 1345 E. Susquehanna Ave. was converted into a photography studio and family home after it was last purchased for $400,000 in 2004. The renovated property is now on the market for $3.5 million. The Gothic stone church was built in the 1850s and is now primarily powered by solar panels installed on the roof.