🌱 Smallpox Vials Found at Merck Lab + Oakland Street Shooting

Good day, neighbors! Dan Casarella here with today's issue of the Philadelphia Daily.

The Daily is made possible by these local businesses: Valerie Morrison - Psychic Medium and Chef Blake Champlain.

Want to see your business featured in this spot in the newsletter? Click here to learn more.

First, today's weather:

Breezy, warm. High: 71 Low: 37.

Here are the top stories today in Philadelphia:

1. The Centers for Disease Control is investigating why vials labeled "smallpox" were found at a Merck facility in suburban Philadelphia. Smallpox is considered so deadly that only two laboratories in the world are allowed to have doses of the virus: the CDC main lab in Atlanta and a facility in Russia. The CDC said the frozen vials were "incidentally discovered" in a freezer by a lab worker and were immediately quarantined. (NBC 10 Philadelphia)
2. A man was shot several times while on or near the porch of his girlfriend's home in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia. There were several children in the home at the time of the shooting on Oakland Street, which happened around 1:45 a.m. on Wednesday, investigators said. When officers arrived on the scene, they learned the 20-year-old man, who had been shot at least seven times, had already been rushed to a nearby hospital. (NBC 10 Philadelphia)
3. Dramatic fall warmth is expected to turn to frigid fall air in a matter of hours on Thursday as a strong cold front puts the season back in check. Residents of the Philadelphia region should prepare for a rollercoaster of a day, with T-shirt-appropriate high temperatures near 70 degrees on Thursday afternoon before winter-coat-required air blasts in across the region in the evening. (CBS Philly)
4. Two Philadelphia men are wanted in connection with a Montgomery County killing.
   Authorities are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of Samir Bentley, 20, and Ahmed Mohammed, 16. Bentley and Mohammed are wanted to face first-degree murder charges for the Oct. 23 shooting death of Robert Stiles on East High Street in Pottstown. (Philadelphia Patch)
5. A large portion of Temple University students who were financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic are getting a cut of $39.2 million through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. According to Temple, about 10,500 students who said they were financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic are expected to get grant funds. Later this month, Temple will disburse an additional $11 to $12 million of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III) funding to about those students who are enrolled for the fall semester. (Philadelphia Patch)

Today's Philadelphia Daily is brought to you by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013)

Today in Philadelphia:

• Government Relations - The Alliance of Community Service Providers (11:00 AM)
• Smart Cities: Improving Philadelphia through Mobility Technology (11:00 AM)
• Theatre Exile presents Extreme Home Makeover by Makasha Copeland (12:00 PM)
• Maximizing Your WBE Certification - Women's Business Enterprise Center - East (2:00 PM)
• Jazz in the Park til Dark - Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (4:00 PM)
• Operation Holiday® Launches the Christmas Season Helping Those in Need (5:30 PM)
• 13th Annual Pints for North Light! - North Light Community Center (6:00 PM)
• cinéSPEAK presents Towards the Other Side: Local Film Shorts (7:00 PM)
• Music at the Mansion - University City Garden Club at the Woodlands (7:00 PM)
• Trans Day of Remembrance - Caplan Center for the Performing Arts (7:00 PM)
• Theatre Exile presents Extreme Home Makeover by Makasha Copeland (7:00 PM)
• Jazz Jam with Nazir Ebo - Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (9:00 PM)
• Jazz Jam with Omar's Hat at World Cafe Live (9:00 PM)

Philadelphia Patch Notebook

• Philadelphia Department of Public Health: "Our next fentanyl training is tomorrow at noon. Register here: phillynaloxone.com." (Facebook)
• Philadelphia Water Department: "Penalties for unpaid water bills have restarted! Customers enrolled in our Tiered Assistance Program or Senior Citizen Discount program are protected from penalties. If you can't pay, apply for assistance." (Facebook)
• City of Philadelphia Government: "The City’s #CityGeo team created a dashboard to make it easier for people to follow its open data work." (Facebook)
• Philadelphia Department of Revenue: "Are you trying to pay off back property taxes? The Owner-Occupied Payment Agreement (OOPA) program allows homeowners to make affordable monthly payments, with no money down!" (Facebook)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Valerie Morrison - Psychic Medium — Private Psychic Readings by Telephone or at my Office (Visit website)
• Chef Blake Champlain — Private Chef offering Meal Prep, Private Dinners and Events (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Operation Holiday® launches the Christmas Season Helping Those in Need (November 18)
• The Craftery Market in Downtown Perkasie (November 20)
• Ugly Sweater Christmas Par-Tea (December 11)
• Add your event

Announcements:

• MediCalm (Details)
• Add your announcement

That's it for today! I'll see you soon. If you're liking these newsletters, consider bringing some more friends and neighbors along for the ride. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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 Byrant, 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.