On the first full day of spring, Philadelphia got a split-screen sort of evening: a crater in the Grays Ferry Avenue Bridge was chewing through tires and stranding drivers, while a few miles away, volunteers were quietly coaxing new life out of the soil at Nice Roots Farm in Hunting Park. Beyond the city, national headlines tracked the death of Robert Mueller and fresh damage reports from Iran's Natanz nuclear complex.
Drivers Stranded On Grays Ferry Avenue Bridge
Eastbound traffic on the Grays Ferry Avenue Bridge hit a nasty surprise late Friday when a deep pothole ripped through multiple tires and forced several drivers to pull over. Police moved in to block off the damaged stretch to keep anyone else from getting caught in the mess.
The “crater-sized” hole tore up the tires of at least five vehicles shortly before midnight, according to 6abc, whose Action Cam captured the scene as drivers inspected the damage on the side of the bridge.
Nice Roots Farm Pulls Volunteers Into The Season
Across town in Hunting Park, the spring season at Nice Roots Farm kicked off with a more hopeful sort of chaos: volunteers clearing out planting beds, tucking in new rows of beets, carrots and radishes, and loading up a community fridge along West Hunting Park Avenue.
The quarter-acre Nice Roots Farm is run by the nonprofit Share Food Program and serves as a demonstration garden that donates fresh produce to neighborhood pantries and community fridges, according to reporting by The Philadelphia Inquirer. The farm is part of a broader effort to chip away at food insecurity while giving residents a hands-on way to help.
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller Dies At 81
Former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III died Friday night at age 81, his family said, closing the book on a career that stretched from the post-9/11 reshaping of the bureau to the politically explosive Russia investigation.
The Associated Press reports that Mueller's family requested privacy. The outlet also noted a wave of public reaction from political figures and flagged a contentious social media post from former President Donald Trump responding to the news.
IAEA, Satellite Images Show Damage At Natanz
Overseas, fresh satellite imagery and international monitoring reports pointed to new damage at Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment site after recent U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Analysis of commercial satellite photos showed harm to entrance structures at the underground facility, while the International Atomic Energy Agency said it had found no sign of radiological leakage and did not expect radiological consequences, according to ABC News.
Warm Weekend, But Severe Storm Risk Late Sunday
Closer to home, forecasters say the pleasant start to the weekend is not likely to last.
Temperatures around the region are expected to climb into the low 70s before a late Sunday cold front brings the risk of strong to severe thunderstorms. Parts of the area fall under a “Slight Risk” category for severe weather, with the main threat window running from about 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and the potential for damaging winds and hail, according to 6abc.
These are developing stories, and details on bridge repairs, farm volunteer opportunities and official updates will be added as new information comes in.
