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Construction delays for PhilaPort, but passengers still set to sail

TINICUM TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPVI) -- The much-anticipated inaugural cruise from the new PhilaPort cruise terminal is scheduled to set sail in just weeks.

But the facility near Philadelphia International Airport in Tinicum Township is nowhere near ready, raising concerns and questions for thousands of travelers.

Video from Chopper 6 shows the PhilaPort still a construction zone with no terminal.

Norwegian Cruise Line and PhilaPort tell the Troubleshooters that check-in for that inaugural voyage will now happen from a temporary facility, but the ship will still set sail as scheduled from this port.

"I enjoy cruising," said Robert McNutt from Toweamencin, Pennsylvania.

McNutt told us he has been especially excited for his next cruise hosted by YouTuber La Lido Loca.

It is scheduled to set sail out of the brand new PhilaPort cruise terminal.

"I said to my wife, 'Let's go see where this cruise port is so we know exactly where we're driving to.' And we drove up, and there's nothing there, and there is nothing there," he said. "There's a little sign on the side of the road, cruise terminal, and it points into that area where all that construction is."

Walter Biscardi is a travel agent who booked about 200 people on the inaugural voyage.

"The biggest question is one, where are we gonna sail out of? Two, how is all this infrastructure going to work? Because there's gonna be 6,000 people on April 16th."

In part, PhilaPort told the Troubleshooters, "There will be no delay for cruise passengers. The first scheduled sailing of the Norwegian Jewel will depart Philadelphia as planned on Thursday, April 16."

The statement went on to say, "Construction has been impacted by extreme winter weather conditions..." and "the embarkation process for the initial sailings will operate from a temporary facility."

McNutt says he's not worried.

"They'll get it done. I've gone on another cruise where they had to put a tent up for us to get checked in through ....other ships and other companies have handled it well," said McNutt.

Norwegian Cruise Lines says it is finalizing plans and will communicate to guests how to board and disembark as soon as that information becomes available, which it anticipates will be within the next week.

Read the full statement released by Norwegian Cruise Line:

"We are excited to bring cruising back to Philadelphia for the first time in many years, opening up cruising in this destination and to the broader Mid-Atlantic region. Given the absence of cruising in the market for quite some time, we are working closely with our partners at PhilaPort to prepare the facility to welcome our guests.

The terminal project is progressing; however, the permanent facility is taking longer than anticipated due to adverse weather conditions in the Philadelphia area this winter. As a result, the embarkation process for the initial sailings will operate from a temporary facility while final development work is being completed, supported by operational plans designed to ensure a smooth guest experience.

We are finalizing those plans and will communicate embarkation and disembarkation details with impacted guests as they become available, which we anticipate will be within the next week. The safety and security of our guests remain our top priority, and once onboard, our crew will deliver the exceptional vacation experience our guests expect from us."

Ballpark dining has come a long way since peanuts and Cracker Jack.

PHILADELPHIA — Ballpark food has come a long way since peanuts and Cracker Jack.

MLB stadium dining has evolved in recent years. While you can still grab a hot dog and traditional ballpark fare, stadiums have diversified their dining options.

When the Philadelphia Phillies begin the 2026 season, Citizens Bank Park will have plenty of new menu items to enjoy during the game.

Here are a few:

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Home Plate, Section 126

Located in one of the most-popular parts of the ballpark, this newly enhanced food stand brings together both Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and Chickie's & Pete's.

Freddy's is a national retro-style restaurant chain that has been growing its presence in the Philly region. Chickie's & Pete's is expanding its footprint, serving its World Famous Crabfries^® and Chicken Tenders.

Schwarbomb Sundae

Coca-Cola Corner Treats, Left Field Plaza

This shareable-sized sundae features Richman's soft serve topped with a funnel-cake-fried strawberry Uncrustable, fresh strawberry sauce and fruity cereal pieces. It's served in a 2026 MLB All-Star Game batting helmet.

The Sweeper

Campo’s, Ashburn Alley

Created in partnership with Jesús Luzardo, this specialty steak is only available when the lefty takes the mound. It features a ribeye steak smothered in pizza sauce and topped with provolone cheese and pepperoni.

Sánchez Sliders

Coca-Cola Corner, Left Field Plaza & Cadillac Hall of Fame Club

This new item is only available when Cristopher Sánchez is on the mound. It features a duo of honey-stung chicken tenders tossed in a house-made hot spice blend and served on potato rolls with Grillo’s Pickles, garlic aioli and Mike’s Hot Honey.

LaScala’s FIRE

Philadelphia Insurance Club

The regional chain of Italian-American restaurants is now behind home plate at Citizens Bank Park.

Ice Cream Caps with MLB All-Star Game exclusive

All soft serve & Dippin’ Dots locations

A new lineup with eight collectible designs is hitting the stands, including a limited-edition MLB All-Star Game exclusive as Philly prepares to host the mid-summer classic.

The Phillies open the season against the Texas Rangers at 4:15 p.m. Thursday at Citizens Bank Park.

A Delaware County entrepreneur whose team bought one of the county's recently closed hospitals just bought another one with the goal of bringing more medical services back.

Todd Strine purchased Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park in the fall and as of this week, he is the owner of Springfield Hospital that had closed back in 2022.

"We want to get this place going again. It's time," Strine said. "Take a look at this. This is move in ready."

Strine owns a local ambulance company and with the help of some local investors, he has been restoring Taylor Hospital.

Next, he wants to make a few tweaks at Springfield in order to get doctors back to business and working on patients as soon as possible.

"We are looking for a licensed provider who is going to come in here and start services within months, not years," he explained. "Delaware County is full of urgent cares but we need next level above urgent care and that's what we have got here. This place is ready to go right now. There's no reason we couldn't be using this basically tomorrow if we put the equipment in."

Strine and his team bought these hospitals after Prospect Holdings backed out.

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He got the county, townships and school districts to cut taxes on the facilities to hopefully help attract medical service providers at a low rent.

"They bought it for pennies on the dollar of what it was worth but there's still a huge step to getting a system in here functioning and making it work. Anything we can do to help them succeed is going to help the people of Delaware County," Pa. Sen. Tim Kearney said.

2 women injured in house fire in Philadelphia's Feltonville neighborhood

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Two women were critically injured Friday morning after a fast-moving rowhome fire trapped them inside their home in the city's Feltonville section, according to fire officials.

The fire broke out just before 6:50 a.m. on the 500 block of East Louden Street.

Neighbors said flames spread rapidly through the home, leaving the women - a 55-year-old and a 73-year-old - unable to escape. Both were rescued by firefighters and taken to Temple University Hospital, where they were last listed in critical condition.

"The fire was right there in the window. All of the smoke, it was so bad that the glass shattered and the flames came out," said neighbor Liza Nuñez.

She said her mother first heard the crackling and someone yelling "fire," prompting her to call 911. Nuñez said she tried to help with a garden hose before dispatchers instructed her to move back for her safety.

Fire crews arrived within minutes.

"Our ladder company with the engine was able to rescue both of them, where they received medical care and then were transported to a local hospital," said Brandon Wilson, battalion chief for the Fire Prevention and Code Division.

The home belonged to Julian Gonzalez's family. He said he rushed to the scene after receiving a call.

"My neighbor's son called and said there was a big fire and that I had to hurry up," he said.

Gonzalez and his fiancée were not inside at the time.

"Nothing's left. At all," said fiancée Jennifer Muniz.

Wilson said the department has been responding to more house fires than usual this year.

"It is a bit unprecedented. It's been a very, very busy year since the beginning for the year," he said.

Early trends, he added, point to causes such as smoking, improper home heating and misuse of extension cords.

Fire officials said there were no working smoke detectors inside the home. The Philadelphia Fire Department provides and installs smoke detectors free of charge for residents who call 311.

It took firefighters about 20 minutes to bring the blaze under control. The Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause.

PENNSYLVANIA - Starting next month, all public and private schools in Pennsylvania will be required to reintroduce cursive handwriting into their curriculum.

The new law, which was signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in February, makes it so "instruction in cursive handwriting or joined italics" will be taught at the "appropriate grade levels."

Strong bipartisan support

What we know:

The law amends the state’s Public School Code of 1949 to add printing, joined italics and cursive handwriting to the required writing curriculum for all students.

The legislation received bipartisan support in the General Assembly, passing the House 195‑8 and the Senate 42‑5 before being signed by the governor.

The mandate officially goes into effect on April 12.

Cursive as 'a bridge'

What they're saying:

The bill was sponsored in the Pennsylvania Senate by Sen. Wayne Langerholic (R-Clearfield), who said in a statement issued last month that "by reintegrating cursive into the curriculum…we are investing in our students’ cognitive development, strengthening their legal preparedness and preserving their connection to historical literacy."

The House sponsor, Rep. Dane Watro (R‑Luzerne/Schuylkill), said proponents believe the skill supports fine motor development and access to historical documents written in script.

"Cursive is more than handwriting. It’s a bridge," Watro said in a statement last month. "It connects us to our history, strengthens learning and deepens our understanding of the world. By teaching cursive, we’re equipping students with skills that sharpen the mind and safeguard our shared heritage."

What studies say (and don't say) about cursive in schools

Dig deeper:

In 2010, the Common Core Standards for K‑12 education did not include cursive handwriting, focusing instead on print handwriting in the early grades. The standards also encouraged the use of technology for producing and publishing writing, which included keyboarding skills at certain grade levels. The initiative was part of an effort to streamline and standardize education across the 50 states.

Despite this, more than half of U.S. states still require or encourage cursive instruction in the classroom, according to Education Week. In 2016, that number was just 14 states.

Neuroscience research shows that handwriting — particularly cursive — activates broader brain networks tied to language, memory, attention and motor planning more than typing, which can support deeper learning and memory retention. Other studies indicate that cursive practice improves writing fluency, speed, fine motor coordination, spelling accuracy and expressive writing, although direct causal links to cognitive improvement remain under study.

Still, experts note that most research links these benefits to handwriting in general, not cursive specifically, highlighting a need for further study.

Official guidance is coming

What's next:

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is developing official guidance this spring that will outline when (by grade level) and how schools should implement cursive instruction, according to department spokesperson Erin James, who spoke with The 74, a nonprofit outlet which covers U.S. education.

James added that the guidance will also provide practical assistance and clear expectations, so teachers can adjust schedules and lesson plans, and may include recommendations on teacher professional development and curriculum materials to support effective instruction.

What we don't know:

As such, how exactly this new law will be implemented statewide remains to be seen.

The Source: Information above was sourced from the Pennsylvania General Assembly, statements from Pennsylvania lawmakers, the 2010 Common Core Standards for K‑12 education, Education Week, several different studies and The 74.