🌱 Free COVID Rapid Test Kits In Philly + Homeless Memorial Day

Morning, Philadelphia! Let's get you all caught up to start this day off on an informed note. Here's everything happening in Philadelphia today.

First, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine. High: 40 Low: 27.

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Here are the top 4 stories today in Philadelphia:

1. City residents can pick up free at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits at several Philadelphia Department of Public Health vaccine clinics popping up this week. After an initial pop-up on Saturday, the health department is hosting nine COVID vaccination events between Monday and Thursday where at-home test kits will be available, according to spokesperson James Garrow. The rapid tests are free for all Philly residents and are limited to two per person. (Billy Penn)
2. Activists will gather in Thomas Paine Plaza at 4 p.m. on Tuesday to call for an end to homelessness in Philadelphia and to honor the city's unhoused residents who died this year. Homeless Memorial Day is celebrated in over 150 municipalities nationwide. It happens annually on or near Dec. 21, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, which is a particularly tough time for those sleeping on the streets. (PhillyVoice.com)
3. Philadelphia’s business community is joining with community groups and universities to offer skilled training programs to fill much-needed entry-level positions with later advancement opportunities. These training programs — including the PIDC's Navy Yard Skills Initiative, the OIC's Smart Energy Technical Training Program, and the Lenfest Center for Community Workforce Partnerships at Temple — provide a needed service to job seekers and the business community. Applications are open for all three programs. (The Philadelphia Tribune)
4. Police are investigating a shooting that left a 21-year-old dead Saturday in Philadelphia's Kingsessing section. Just before 2 p.m. on the 5400 block of Willow Avenue, a 21-year-old man was shot once in the chest and once in the back. The victim was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center by police, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. (WPVI-TV)

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Today in Philadelphia:

• Special Holiday Storytime Online - Yeadon Public Library (12:00 PM)
• Friends Of Whitman Library's Kids Winter Party - Whitman Branch Library (3:00 PM)
• Winter Solstice Bird Walk At The Woodlands - Clark Park Farmer's Market (3:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Philadelphia Parks & Recreation cut the ribbon on the new basketball and futsal courts and toddler playground at Tarken Recreation Center. (Facebook)
• The City of Philadelphia is on track to meet its goal of creating and preserving 100,000 homes over ten years. (Facebook)
• Enjoy this snapshot of Philadelphia highlights from 2021. (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update!

— Dan Casarella

About me: Dan Casarella is a writer, podcast producer, and small business development specialist who formerly worked in late-night television. He’s produced many talk segments, including with President Joe Biden, Kobe Bryant, and Chadwick Boseman. Dan studied Media Studies and Production at Temple University. He also enjoys running, painting, and the highs and lows of Philadelphia’s sports teams.