‘I killed a lady. … I took everything she had,’ teen told friends after killing his foster mother, sources say

by Chris Palmer, Mike Newall and Allison Steele, The Philadelphia Inquirer. January 16, 2020 With a duffel bag of cash and a stolen credit card,17-year-old Xavier Johnson took friends on a shopping spree Wednesday. They drove through West Philadelphia in the car of the foster mother Johnson had allegedly stabbed to death hours before, law enforcement … Continue reading ‘I killed a lady. … I took everything she had,’ teen told friends after killing his foster mother, sources say →

It’s a boy! Philly-area couple and Penn Medicine celebrate first birth from uterine transplant program

by Marie McCullough, Jan. 9, 2020 The Philadelphia Inquirer Jennifer and Drew Gobrecht are barely exaggerating when they call their son “a perfect miracle." Benjamin Thomas Gobrecht was conceived using in vitro fertilization and grew inside a womb that was transplanted into his mother more than a year ago at the Hospital of the … Continue reading It’s a boy! Philly-area couple and Penn Medicine celebrate first birth from uterine transplant program →

Pew Center finds most Americans support vaccinating kids for measles

by Rita Giordano, The Philadelphia Inquirer. Updated: January 7, 2020 The vast majority of Americans continue to believe that the benefits of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine outweigh any risks it may present — and that those risks are low, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center. In addition, … Continue reading Pew Center finds most Americans support vaccinating kids for measles →

Six-year-old Maddie asks a judge to free her and her father after 195 days at the Berks immigrant detention center

by Jeff Gammage, The Philadelphia Inquirer. Updated: January 7, 2020 For now, Maddie isn’t going anywhere. Two days of contentious legal arguments concluded Tuesday evening with no ruling on whether the 6-year-old Guatemalan girl, who has spent a record 195 days in the Berks County immigrant detention center, could soon leave with her father. … Continue reading Six-year-old Maddie asks a judge to free her and her father after 195 days at the Berks immigrant detention center →

Hundreds of Thousands Are Losing Access to Food Stamps

The Agriculture Department gave its final approval to the first of three rules that are ultimately expected to cut more than three million from the food stamp rolls. By Lola Fadulu Dec. 4, 2019 The New York Times WASHINGTON — The Trump administration, brushing aside tens of thousands of protest letters, gave final approval on Wednesday to a … Continue reading Hundreds of Thousands Are Losing Access to Food Stamps →

‘A socially isolated group’: Millennial caregivers are increasing, but they face unique challenges

by Bethany Ao, Updated: December 3, 2019 The Philadelphia Inquirer When Sophath Chum was 15, his mother suffered a stroke. His father decided to put her in a nursing home in West Chester. But during follow-up visits, Chum noticed bruises on his mother’s body. So three years ago, when his father began needing more care due to … Continue reading ‘A socially isolated group’: Millennial caregivers are increasing, but they face unique challenges →

Food insecurity — not having enough food to eat — causes drastic and unhealthy coping solutions for many high school athletes in and around Philly.

by Aaron Carter, Updated: November 9, 2019 The Philadelphia Inquirer His stomach was often empty. His body was always weary. Tragedy, frustration, and pain had nearly cost Casey Williams his Division I football promise. Yet he believed a college football scholarship meant a better life. But to cope with pangs of hunger that made sleep improbable, Williams, … Continue reading Food insecurity — not having enough food to eat — causes drastic and unhealthy coping solutions for many high school athletes in and around Philly. →

After Glen Mills, legal center warns Pa.: Juvenile programs do more harm than good

by Lisa Gartner, Updated: November 1, 2019 The Philadelphia Inquirer One of the organizations suing Pennsylvania officials over violence at the Glen Mills Schools will on Friday attempt to persuade state leaders to stop sending children to juvenile institutions like Glen Mills, saying these programs do more to harm youth than reform them. The nonprofit, Philadelphia-based Juvenile Law Center, a national … Continue reading After Glen Mills, legal center warns Pa.: Juvenile programs do more harm than good →

Despite warnings, Pennsylvania failed to detect, stop abuses at Glen Mills and other schools

by Lisa Gartner, The Philadelphia Inquirer Updated: October 3, 2019 How Pennsylvania failed to protect boys from abuse at Glen Mills and other state-licensed juvenile programs. --------- Eight Principles to Transform Care for Young People in the Justice System By the Annie E. Casey Foundation October 6, 2019 Summary This issue brief identifies eight principles that … Continue reading Despite warnings, Pennsylvania failed to detect, stop abuses at Glen Mills and other schools →