On Thursday — the sixth consecutive day of 90-plus temperatures locally — Philadelphia reported its first heat-related death since 2016.
The victim was not identified, nor was it disclosed when the person died. Health Department spokesman James Garrow said heat was “a significant contributing factor” to the death, which occurred during the heat wave that began Saturday and peaked Tuesday.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/heat-wave-philadelphia-death-flood-watch-20180705.html
By Tony Wood
Across the sidewalk, a woman named Kelly sat on a folding chair and watched Herens move down the block. She had heard about the cluster of overdoses, but it hadn’t deterred her from buying crack. She said she wasn’t interested in carrying Narcan: “I feel like it wouldn’t matter if I died,” she said. Her eyes welled with tears.
Herens walked over, flier in hand. It couldn’t hurt to learn a bit about it, she said. Kelly nodded, managed a smile, and took the flier.
By Aubrey Whelan
“We were certainly both surprised and disappointed to see that included, particularly in a bill that wasn’t out in the open for discussion,” said Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the city’s director of chronic disease prevention. “There wasn’t a way to have a discussion about all the reasons that’s a terrible idea.”
https://www.phillyvoice.com/philly-ban-flavored-tobacco-state-budget/
By John Kopp
The Collected Works of Jim Garrow 