Jim's Steaks reopens at 4pm Wednesday in South Philly after a devastating fire nearly two years ago.Why it matters: The cheesesteak mecca had attracted about a million visitors annually and fueled economic activity on South Street before it was forced to close for repairs.Driving the news: Jim's has expanded, adding more seating and featuring several large mosaics from local famed folk artist Isaiah Zagar, creator of Philadelphia's Magic Gardens.Yes, but: Much is the same, including the cash-only menu and no fried food.A plain steak sandwich will cost you $11.99, and a cheesesteak $13.49.Between the lines: The cheesesteak spot now stretches...

As if Rocky Balboa wasn't stout enough, he's getting a buff.Why it matters: The Rocky statue must look its best for the millions of pilgrims who visit the sculpture every year at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.Driving the news: Art conservators from the Conservation Center will clean the iconic bronze statue May 7-8 as part of routine maintenance, per a city news release.The city will put up temporary barriers and signs directing foot traffic while the statue is polished daily from 8am-4 pm.The barriers will be removed both days to allow people to continue paying homage to the Rocky statue, which is so popular with tourists that it helped inspire a forthcoming "Rocky-con" festival and a book by Michael Vitez, a former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter.How it got here: Sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg created the statue in 1980, and Sylvester Stallone gifted it to the city. It is one of more than 1,800 pieces in the city's permanent art collection.What they're saying: Marguerite Anglin, the city's public art director, says the maintenance helps protect the statue from weather damage and will "preserve it for generations to come."

Philadelphia's new Board of Education takes over Wednesday amid a power struggle between Mayor Cherelle Parker and the City Council over one of her appointments.Why it matters: The conflict raises questions about how well legislators will work with the new school board and mayor.State of play: Joyce Wilkerson is expected to be sworn in along with the eight other board members at 10am at City Hall despite failing to receive approval for her nomination from the council.Between the lines: School board members are appointed by the mayor but must receive a vote of consent from city legislators before their terms...

PennDOT spent more than $182,000 to remove graffiti from state highways last year, with more than 70% of that going toward removing taggings in and around the Philadelphia region. Why it matters: Graffiti has been identified as a persistent nuisance and among the quality-of-life issues that Mayor Cherelle Parker is...

Graffiti artist William Bonnie has scaled water towers and interstate overpasses to tag the most visible spots in the Philly area. The big picture: He tells Axios that he's fallen off ladders, has multiple warrants out for his arrest, and has been involved in foot chases with the police — all risks he's taken to cultivate a following for his work on Instagram.

Cafe La Maudé came in at No. 30 in Yelp's new rankings for 100 best brunch spots in the country. Why it matters: The Northern Liberties eatery was the lone Pennsylvania restaurant on the list. Driving the news: Yelp issued its rankings alongside a survey in the runup to...

Tracey Syphax is a numbers guy — he remembers his inmate number, 226926, and the first time he saw seven digits in his bank account. The big picture: Syphax, a Trenton-based real estate developer who co-owns Booker's restaurant in Philadelphia with his wife, remade himself from a drug-addicted hustler who spent seven years in prison into an entrepreneur.

More Pennsylvania women are having babies in their 30s and 40s than 25 years ago, per provisional CDC data. Why it matters: In the last few years, age 35 has gone from the start of "geriatric pregnancy," to potentially a maternal-age sweet spot, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum writes. By the numbers:...

Philly college students protesting the war in Gaza are defying an order to disband an encampment at the University of Pennsylvania.Why it matters: University administrations across the U.S. have cracked down on student demonstrators in unprecedented ways as protests grow in size and intensity, Axois' April Rubin and Kavya Beheraj write. State of play: Organizers for the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Penn said Saturday in a social media post that they will maintain their encampment on the university's College Green until their handful of demands are met. Those demands include the university divesting from businesses that have financial ties to...

Philadelphia still needs lifeguards to fully staff its public pools this summer despite netting hundreds of applications last week.Why it matters: Staff shortages in the past year reduced pool hours and caused closures.State of play: The city requires about 400 lifeguards to staff more than 60 public pools from June-August.About 250 applications came in before last week's deadline for a $1,000 end-of-summer bonus, city spokesperson Andrew Alter tells Axios.This is the city's second year offering that financial perk to combat a yearslong lifeguard shortage.Yes, but: Those who apply by May 15 are still eligible for a $500 bonus.The city won't...

The University of Pennsylvania received a massive collection of more than 75,000 comics, including first editions of X-Men.Why it matters: Superhero movies like "Spider-Man" and "Deadpool" have led to a resurgent interest in collecting comics whose historical and cultural importance is studied at some of America's top colleges.Driving the news: UPenn alum Gary Prebula and his wife Dawn donated their collection, estimated to be worth over $500,000, per a news release.The university will eventually make the comics available for public viewing at the Jay I. Kislak Center.Details: The collection includes rare comics, including the first issues of "The Amazing Spider-Man"...

Former Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins dishes on all things art collecting this weekend at The Philadelphia Show.Driving the news: The 62nd annual event outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art will feature dozens of antique and art dealers starting Friday.The show will feature Americana, fine and folk art and ceramics from the 17th century to the present.What's new: Jenkins will discuss his motivations and process for collecting modern African American art together with Eleanor Nairne, the head of modern and contemporary art at the art museum, at 10am on Sunday ($30).After Jenkins' lecture, he will participate in a book signing for...

Sports fans love star players making guarantees. Think Joe Namath, and now Joel Embiid.What they're saying: "We're going to win this series," Embiid said as his team was down 2-0 to the Knicks in the opening round of the NBA playoffs. We know what we have to fix."Why it matters: Thursday's home game is a must-win for the Sixers as no team in NBA history has ever won a series after going down 3-0.Catch up quick: The Sixers were still fuming over the controversial ending in Monday's 104-101 loss in Game 2.The NBA acknowledged guard Tyrese Maxey was fouled multiple...

A surge of Democratic voters cast write-in ballots in Pennsylvania's presidential primary on Tuesday, a potential warning for President Biden over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war.Why it matters: Biden's stance on the war has hurt his support among Arab and Muslim American voters, whose large population in Pennsylvania could be essential to winning the key swing state in November.Driving the news: More than 36,000 Democratic voters cast write-in votes in the presidential primary in seven of the most populous counties in the state, including Philadelphia and Allegheny counties, per county election websites.The numbers far surpass write-in totals from the...

🌸 It's the last weekend to catch Fairmount Park's Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs through Saturday. The festivities cap with a curated series on youth rebellion over the last six decades at Lightbox Film Center. Tickets: $10, $8 students/seniors⚖️ Learn about Eastern State Penitentiary's connection with Judaism. The landmark's Passover-focused programming, including guided tours, videos and exhibits, runs through Monday. Tickets: $21 for adults, $19 for seniors, $17 for kids 7-12; free for those under 7.🍺 Cheers! Everyone's favorite spot to grab brews and bites, Parks on Tap, is at Columbus Square Park in South Philly. Thursday-Friday, 4-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, noon-10pm.🎽...

Some key races from Tuesday's primary have been called as other results continue to roll in. Why it matters: Pennsylvanians now have a clearer idea of the political matchups in the fall presidential election. State of play: Democratic Eugene DePasquale won a crowded Democratic primary for state attorney general while...

Here are the key primary races we've been following.How it works: Races with a winner called by the AP get a ✅, as do those where a candidate ran unopposed.Other races will give preliminary percentages from the Department of State's election dashboard as of Wednesday morning. TreasurerDemocratRyan Bizzarro 46%Erin McClelland 54% ✅RepublicanStacy Garrity (incumbent) 100%172nd House DistrictDemocratsKevin Boyle (incumbent) 27.5%Sean Dougherty 72.5% ✅RepublicanAizaz Gill 65% ✅Patrick Gushue 35%3rd Congressional DistrictDemocratDwight Evans (incumbent) 88% ✅Tracey Gordon 12%RepublicanNo candidates10th state House DistrictDemocratAmen Brown (incumbent) 40.7%Sajda Blackwell 20.2%Cass Green 39%1st Congressional District (Bucks and Montgomery counties)DemocratAshley Ehasz 100%RepublicanBrian Fitzpatrick (incumbent) 61.5% ✅Mark Justin Houck 38.6%

Data: UMD-LinkUp AIMaps; Note: "AI job" is defined as a job requiring technical skills to build and/or use AI models. A bigger circle indicates more new jobs per capita. Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosPhiladelphia's market for artificial intelligence jobs is heating up, but we're still not close to becoming one of the nation's top 10 hotspots.Why it matters: As AI emerges as the hottest new thing in tech, cities outside Silicon Valley can get in on the action — and reap the potentially lucrative economic rewards, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj write.By the numbers: In the year's first quarter, the Philly...

Primary day has arrived and we've compiled a cheat sheet of resources for voters.Why it matters: Voters will determine which candidates move on to the November election when Pennsylvania will be among a handful of critical swing states that could determine the presidency and control of Congress.📍 What's happening: Officials start counting mail-in ballots at 7am Tuesday when polls open. Polls close at 8pm.The presidential, U.S. Senate, and other congressional offices, as well as all state rep and some senatorial positions, are on the ballot.Plus: A trio of state row offices are on the ballot — attorney general, auditor general...

We're keeping our eyes on a handful of races in Tuesday's primary.State attorney generalThe state's top legal officer prosecutes crime and corruption.The office has been a springboard to running for governor.Attorney General Michelle Henry, a Democrat, isn't running.On the ballot:Democrats: Keir Bradford-Grey, Eugene DePasquale, Joe Khan, Jack Stollsteimer and Jared Solomon.Republicans: Dave Sunday and Craig Williams.172nd House DistrictState Rep. Kevin Boyle, a Democrat, is facing a primary challenge from Sean Dougherty.Boyle is a seven-term legislator who had been facing an arrest warrant over the past week before it was withdrawn on Monday, per FOX29. He also was caught on camera...