Philadelphia will host games in the 2026 men’s soccer World Cup, the first time the city has hosted the world’s biggest sports event. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
By Jonathan Tannenwald, Philadelphia Inquirer Jun 16, 2022, at 5:53 pm
Just after 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Philadelphia’s place in the sports world changed forever.
After many years of waiting, the city for the first time officially became a host of a men’s soccer World Cup, the planet’s biggest and most famous sports event.
In 2026, Philadelphia will be among a group of co-hosts of a sporting spectacle: 48 national teams combining to play 80 games across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The other host cities will be Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco (Santa Clara, really), and Seattle in the United States; and Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey in Mexico.
Boston’s bid was the surprise inclusion. Washington’s joint bid with Baltimore was the most surprising exclusion. Cincinnati, Denver, Edmonton, Orlando, and Nashville also missed the cut.
The announcement was made by FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, during a TV show broadcast from Manhattan to the world. Hershey’s Christian Pulisic, the biggest star of the U.S. men’s team, was part of the show. And there were jubilant celebrations by a crowd at LOVE Park in Center City that included fans, local youth players, and representatives from the city, the Eagles, and the Union.
Among them was Union captain Alejandro Bedoya, who played for the United States at the 2014 men’s World Cup. Some of his current and former colleagues — including Pulisic, Downingtown’s Zack Steffen, and Medford’s Brenden and Paxten Aaronson — could play in the 2026 tournament. Pulisic, Steffen, and Brenden Aaronson are on course to play in this fall’s edition in Qatar, and they star for some of the world’s most famous club teams.
They’re all familiar with a chant popularized by Union fans, then adopted by the Eagles, that was taken from English soccer fan culture: “No one likes us, we don’t care.” Those words have been proven false. The world’s most popular sport likes Philadelphia very much.
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HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers and advocates for legal cannabis say uneven access to marijuana has pushed consumers toward a widely available — but unregulated — a psychoactive product whose exact contents are often impossible to discern.
A state senator is now pushing to implement regulations that would keep it available while ensuring it is safe to consume.
Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — known as delta-8 — is a cannabinoid derived from hemp. Its properties resemble those of delta-9, the main cannabinoid in marijuana that produces the high. But users say delta-8 creates milder effects.
In 2018, Congress unintentionally sanctioned the sale of delta-8 when it passed a federal farm bill legalizing hemp production. Since then, it has become widely available in edibles, vape pens, oils, and food products sold at head shops, gas stations, and online.
In Pennsylvania, some consumers have turned to it for its reported milder side effects, and because of the state’s complex cannabis landscape: Accessing medical marijuana can be time-consuming and costly, and recreational cannabis remains illegal.
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WASHINGTON — A group of senators, including a key bloc of Republicans — among them Pennsylvania’s Pat Toomey — put forward a “commonsense, bipartisan” deal on gun reform Sunday amid a nationwide surge in high-profile mass shootings.
The deal announced Sunday afternoon would support so-called red flag laws, fund mental health initiatives, flag domestic violence perpetrators in the national background check system, and expand the review process for weapons buyers under 21.
Though the proposal neither includes the wide-ranging measures passed along party lines in the House last week nor President Joe Biden’s call for an assault weapons ban, the legislation could mark the first significant movement on gun laws since the mid-1990s.
In a tweet published Sunday night, Mr. Toomey described the bill as protecting “the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans while making our communities safer.”
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Here’s a list of bills scheduled for committee action in the NJ Legislature Today (6/13) and Thursday (6/16)
By Frank Brill, EnviroPolitics Editor
Bill: A111 (Space, Wirths) Summary: Provides that farm, farmstand, or other agricultural operation selling firewood obtained from property other than seller’s shall not be considered a lumber yard. Scheduled: 06/13/2022—Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee, 1:00p, 4th Floor, Room 12, Annex.
Bill: A184 (Rooney) Summary: Requires public utilities requesting rate increase to hold public hearings in every county. 06/02/2022—Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Assembly. Scheduled: 06/16/2022—Assembly, Committees at Call of the Speaker; 1:00p Voting Session.
Bill: A1929 (Swain, Dancer) Summary: Directs the Department of Agriculture to establish New Jersey Minority, Women, and Underserved Farmer Registry. History: 01/11/2022—Introduced and referred to Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee. Scheduled: 06/13/2022—Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee, 1:00p, 4th Floor, Room 12, Annex.
Bill: A428 Aca (1R) (Thompson) Summary: Allows planning and zoning board members to satisfy training requirements on the Internet. History: 01/11/2022—Introduced and referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee. 6/09/2022—Reported out of committee with committee amendments Scheduled: 06/16/2022—Assembly, Committees at Call of the Speaker; 1:00p Voting Session.
Bill: A1960 Acs (ACS) (Wimberly, Mukherji, Chapparo) Summary: Directs certain unclaimed electric, gas, and water public utility deposits in Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund and societal charge revenues to be paid to Statewide nonprofit public utility assistance organizations meeting certain eligibility criteria History: 01/11/2022—Introduced and referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee. 06/02/2022—Reported out of committee with committee substitute, 2nd reading in Assembly. Scheduled: 06/14/2022—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex. (Revised 06/10/2022)
Bill: A2317 (Dancer) Summary: Allows equine and livestock veterinary facilities on preserved farmland under certain conditions. History: 02/07/2022—Introduced and referred to Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee. Scheduled: 06/13/2022—Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee, 1:00p, 4th Floor, Room 12, Annex.
Bill: A2422 (Wimberly) Summary: Directs certain unclaimed electric and gas utility deposits in Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund and societal charge revenues to be paid to Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organizations meeting certain eligibility criteria. History: 02/07/2022—Introduced and referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee. 06/02/2022—Combined with A‑1960 (ACS). Scheduled: 06/14/2022—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex.
Bill: A3444 (Dancer) Summary: Establishes Organic Farming Advisory Board in the Department of Agriculture. History: 03/08/2022—Introduced and referred to Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee. Scheduled: 06/13/2022—Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee, 1:00p, 4th Floor, Room 12, Annex.
Bill: A4066 (Verrelli, Moen, Speight) Summary: Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2023. History: 06/02/2022—Introduced and referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee. Scheduled: 06/14/2022—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Room 11, Annex.
Bill: A4067 (Sampson, Conaway, Carter) Summary: Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2023. History: 06/02/2022—Introduced and referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee. Scheduled: 06/14/2022—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex.
Bill: A4089 AcaAca (2R) (DeAngelo, Benson, Karabinchak) Summary: Extends deadlines, under certain circumstances, for the completion and commercial operation of certain solar electric power generation facilities. History: 05/26/2022—Introduced and referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee. 06/02/2022—Reported out of committee with committee amendments, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee. 06/09/2022—Transferred to Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee. Reported from committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Assembly. Scheduled: 06/16/2022—Assembly, Committees at Call of the Speaker; 1:00p Voting Session.
Bill: A4182 ( Freiman, Dancer) Summary: Permits certain deer control activities; establishes check‑off donation on hunting license applications to support venison donation program; authorizes the issuance of multi‑species depredation permit for wildlife control on farmland. History: 06/02/2022—Introduced and referred to Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee. Scheduled: 06/13/2022—Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee, 1:00p, 4th Floor, Room 12, Annex.
Bill: S287 Greenstein (D14); Singleton (D7) +5 Summary: Provides CBT tax credit for certain deliveries of low carbon concrete and for costs of conducting environmental product declaration analyses of low carbon concrete. History: 01/11/2022—Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee. Scheduled: 06/13/2022—Senate Environment and Energy Committee, 1:00p, 1st Floor, Room 6, Annex.
Bill: S426 (Smith ) Summary: Requires producers of packaging products sold in New Jersey to adopt and implement packaging product stewardship plans. History: 01/11/2022—Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee. Scheduled: 06/13/2022—Senate Environment and Energy, 1 pm, 1st Floor, Room 6, Annex. Discussion only
Bill: S428 (Smith, Oroho) Summary: Extends Right to Farm Act protections to certain aquaculture activities. History: 01/11/2022—Introduced and referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee. Scheduled: 06/13/2022—Senate Economic Growth Committee, 10:30 am, 1st Floor, Committee Room 1, Annex.
Bill: S2449( Gopal (D11); Polistina (R2) +6) Summary: Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million. History: 05/09/2022—Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee. Scheduled: 06/13/2022—Senate Environment and Energy Committee, 1:00p, 1st Floor, Room 6, Annex.
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The emerging framework is a major breakthrough in talks following back-to-back mass shootings. Negotiators’ next challenge: writing legislation that can get 60 votes.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, along with Sens. Chris Murphy, Kyrsten Sinema, and Thom Tillis, is the lead negotiators on the proposal. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo
In a Sunday morning statement, 10 senators in each party announced support for the deal. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blessed it, vowing to “put this bill on the floor as soon as possible,” and President Joe Biden said it “would be the most significant gun safety legislation to pass Congress in decades.” The president urged both chambers of Congress to finish the package quickly.
The emerging package is anchored around extra scrutiny for gun buyers under the age of 21, grants to states to implement so-called red flag laws, and new spending on mental health treatment and school security. While translating the agreement into legislation will take time, the large group of supportive senators shows that the package could gain 60 votes on the Senate floor before heading to the House.
“Our plan saves lives while also protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. We look forward to earning broad, bipartisan support and passing our commonsense proposal into law,” the 20 senators said in their statement.
Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) are the lead negotiators on the proposal. The most significant piece of the proposal would subject gun buyers 21 and younger to the scrutiny of their criminal and mental health records as juveniles. It’s proved tricky to write because each state has different laws governing juvenile records.
A broader bipartisan group has held its own regular meetings on guns over the past three weeks since the elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. And with Democrats controlling only 50 Senate seats, the approval of 10 Republicans is critical to moving forward.
EnviroPolitics reader: What do you think about the approach taken by this proposed legislation? Is it enough to make a significant dent in the problem of gun violence in America? Is it less than acceptable because it dodges the issue of military-style weapons? Is it the best we can hope for and should be embraced? Or is it a placebo that will enable Congress to duck any significant action for years? If gun control is important to you, let us know what you think in the comments.
Thousands of people rallied on the National Mall and across the United States on Saturday in a renewed push for gun control measures after recent deadly mass shootings from Uvalde, Texas, to Buffalo, New York, that activists say should compel Congress to act.
After 17 people died in a school shooting in Parkland, Fla., in 2018, then-high school student Erin Simard co-founded a Pittsburgh chapter of March For Our Lives, leading an estimated 30,000 people in a march in Downtown Pittsburgh.
