The Week in Philly: A rally for Ukraine, Real ID deadline and efforts to save 2 historic landmarks

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia is home to one of the largest Ukrainian populations in the United States. How did the community respond and rally in the aftermath of the explosive White House exchange between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy?

Look back, look ahead, and get a better understanding of the stories shaping the Philadelphia region on “The Week in Philly” with Matt Leon and KYW Newsradio’s team of reporters. Listen on KYW Newsradio 103.9 FM Saturdays at 5 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Episodes are also available as a podcast or, you can check out individual segments below.

In November 2021, Philadelphia became the first major city in the United States to pass a bill eliminating minor traffic offenses. The objective was to improve police-community relations, specifically among the Black community. Three years into existence, Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, who sponsored the Driving Equality law, says the results are mixed. KYW Newsradio City Hall Bureau Chief Pat Loeb examines the areas where the initiative has both succeeded and fallen short.

A new presidential administration has brought a dramatic change in American policy towards Ukraine, with no incident capturing the shift more starkly than a recent exchange at the White House. In response to the contentious meeting, members of the Philadelphia Ukrainian community and their allies gathered for a spontaneous rally at City Hall. KYW Newsradio’s Vik Raghupathi spoke to attendees about their concerns, and how they plan to show support.

Ready? Set? Go get your government-issued Real ID before you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time, or have to deal with a crush of procrastinators who have yet to get their Real IDs, too! With the May 7 deadline looming, KYW Newsradio South Jersey Bureau Chief Mike Dougherty provides a progress report on how the Garden State is preparing to help millions of residents obtain this updated form of identification, and explains why it will be necessary.

Joe Frazier was a boxing legend in Philadelphia, but the gym where he trained to fight Muhammad Ali has fallen into disrepair. KYW Newsradio’s Shara Dae Howard tells us how the North Philly community is fighting to save the building, and how the city also rallied to restore the Marian Anderson Museum — where the famous singer and civil rights activist lived — after a flood.

President Donald Trump has been threatening to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China since he won the election. In the past few days, he has enacted those tariffs and then quickly paused some of them. All this uncertainty has made the stock market plummet and left businesses unsure of how to move forward. The President & CEO of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, Thomas Young, explains how tariffs work and how the threat of a trade war has impacted local businesses.

While the Hartranft Community Center in North Philadelphia was closed for more than two decades, neighbors missed the gathering space and community resource it used to be. The center reopened this week, returning to its former glory with an indoor pool, multi-purpose classrooms, and more. KYW’s Community Impact Reporter Racquel Williams talked to community members and officials at the reopening.