The Week in Philly: Whole Foods workers unionize, Quaker groups file lawsuit and a State of the Schools address

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Workers at the Spring Garden Whole Foods Market voted on Jan. 27 to join a union, making them the first store in the chain to organize. But the journey isn't over yet.

Also, the Eagles are gearing up for the Super Bowl this Sunday. We break down some keys to success for the Birds.

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.

President Donald Trump rescinded protections for “sensitive spaces” from ICE raids, including schools, hospitals, and churches. Philadelphia area Quakers are now suing, saying that allowing ICE to enter any place of worship would disrupt people’s ability to practice their faith. KYW Newsradio’s Justin Udo tells us how this lawsuit ties in with a long history of Quakers defending religious freedom.

Monday, Jan. 27, was Holocaust Remembrance Day, this year marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. KYW Newsradio’s Vik Raghupathi went to a ceremony where speakers shared stories to keep the Holocaust in our memories and emphasized that we can’t let white supremacy become normalized.

This year marks Whole Foods’ 45th in operation. Up until a recent vote cast by workers at the Spring Garden Street location in Philadelphia, the grocery store chain had never before employed a union. As much as the process was historic, it was also emotional. KYW Newsradio City Hall Bureau Chief Pat Loeb looks at the toll unionizing took on various stakeholders, and forecasts what figures to be an arduous road ahead for workers as they face their next hurdle: Negotiating a contract with Whole Foods’ juggernaut owner, Amazon.

Like the iconic marquee that illuminated the distinct pink exterior of his popular shrimp takeout spot and nightclub at the intersection of Broad Street and Belfield Avenue, Sid Booker was a fixture in Philadelphia. Yes, he was the “Colonel of Shrimp,” purveying his signature product to golden brown perfection. But as KYW Newsradio’s Shara Dae Howard explains, Booker, who passed away last week at 87, was so much more than a businessman. He enriched the community around him.

In his second State of the Schools address, Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington highlighted some improvements in test scores, but said there is still more work to do. KYW’s education reporter Mike DeNardo checks in on where Philly schools stand and how they’re trying to continue that upward climb.

The Eagles certainly seemed to save their best for their latest game, a 55-23 drubbing of the Washington Commanders to win the NFC championship, but there’s still one last hurdle to clear. In order for Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, and a top-ranked defense to knock off the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59, there figures to be little margin for error. KYW Newsradio sports reporter Dave Uram previews the big rematch in the Big Easy and gives his keys to an Eagles’ victory.