Nate File
Verified
Communities & Engagement Reporter @phillyinquirer | prev words @BostonReview @phillymag | he/him | nfile@inquirer.com 🏴☠️
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Nate File
For the fans at the 76ers' stunning win in the home opener, LeBron James was the star
Local sports fans, who this month have been watching their hopes fade faster than the October daylight, got an improbable and dramatic respite on the night that a 41-year-old NBA megastar on his way to the Hall of Fame made his home debut as a 76er. He may not have been the star of the game, but LeBron James clearly was the star among the fans who watched a spectacular second-half surge overcome a dismal first half in which King James committed five of the Sixers 15 turnovers.
For the fans at the 76ers’ stunning win in the home opener, LeBron was the star
Local sports fans, who this month have been watching their hopes fade faster than the October daylight, got an improbable and dramatic respite on the night that a 41-year-old NBA megastar on his way to the Hall of Fame made his home debut as a Philadelphia 76er. He may not have been the star of the game, but LeBron James clearly was the star amongthe fans who watched a spectacular second-half surge overcome a dismal first half in which King James committed five of the Sixers 15 turnovers.
A West Philly youth nonprofit is exploding with popularity, but won’t turn anyone away
Popularity is dangerous for any beloved institution, since nothing hurts like the acknowledgment that your favorite music artist or tiny restaurant just isn’t the same since hitting it big. But young people say that is not happening to the West Philadelphia nonprofit Level Up as it undergoes its own star turn. Level Up has more than doubled its attendance in the last year, according to founder and executive director Aaron Campbell.
Haverford professor accused of sending antisemitic threats to a colleague is detained until trial
A Haverford College professor accused of cyberstalking and issuing antisemitic threats to a colleague will be held in custody until his trial, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. Guangtian Ha, an assistant professor of religion, was arrested last week following an FBI investigation. Prosecutors saidhe used several anonymous accounts on X to send hateful, antisemitic messages to his colleague off and on from October 2025 until May.
Pope will not present sustainability medal
Pope Leo XIV will not present an inaugural Villanova University sustainability medal in his name, as he is slated to undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a small growth discovered in his lung. The 71 year-old pontiff said during his regular Sunday address in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City that doctors had detected a nodule “at a very early stage” that was “well localized.” Pope Leo was scheduled to present the medal at a conference in Rome on Tuesday.
Pope Leo will not present Villanova sustainability medal due to upcoming surgery
Pope Leo XIV will not present an inaugural Villanova University sustainability medal in his name, as he is slated to undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a small growth discovered in his lung. The 71 year-old pontiff said during his regular Sunday address in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City that doctors had detected a nodule "at a very early stage" that was "well localized." Pope Leo was scheduled to present the medal at a conference in Rome on Tuesday.
Pope Leo will not present Villanova sustainability medal due to upcoming surgery
Pope Leo XIV will not present an inaugural Villanova University sustainability medal in his name, as he is slated toundergo surgery in the coming days to remove a small growth discovered in his lung. The 71 year-old pontiff said during his regular Sunday address in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City that doctors had detected a nodule “at a very early stage” that was “well localized.” Pope Leo was scheduled to present the medal at a conference in Rome on Tuesday.
Pope Leo will not present Villanova sustainability medal due to upcoming surgery
Pope Leo XIV will not present an inaugural Villanova University sustainability medal in his name, as he is slated to undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a small growth discovered in his lung. The 71 year-old pontiff said during his regular Sunday address in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City that doctors had detected a nodule “at a very early stage” that was “well localized.” Pope Leo was scheduled to present the medal at a conference in Rome on Tuesday.
Copper wire thieves turn out the lights on youth sports teams
Nationwide, youth sports have evolved into a $40 billion industry, attracting private equity and other major investors. But in Philadelphia, some teams are dealing with problems as basic as nightfall. In Hunting Park, parents of players on the North Philadelphia Aztecs football team pull their cars up to the end zones and use their headlights to keep practice going.
Woman killed in Center City identified as a West Philly teacher
Philadelphia police have identified the victim of a fatal car crash in Center City as a teacher at a West Philly elementary school. Zoe Schemm, 26, was attempting to catch a bus near 19th and Lombard Streets when a vehicle driver struck her at 6:42 a.m. Wednesday. She suffered severe injuries after she became trapped underneath the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
A pedestrian was killed in a car crash in Center City
A pedestrian was killed in a car crash in Center City on Wednesday morning, police said. At about 6:42 a.m., Philadelphia police responded to a report of a crash involving a vehicle and pedestrian near 19th and Lombard Streets. The victim was a woman in her 20s and she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The woman was crossing Lombard Street when the vehicle driver, who was traveling westbound, struck her. The driver remained at the scene, and no arrests have been made.
Philly Youth Basketball hopes a $50M workforce hub can help young adults on a really big scale
Philly Youth Basketball, a nonprofit that hosts a range of programming within the sport and outside it from its massive Nicetown facility, is expanding its footprint. On Friday, it announced a $50 million workforce development project called the Generator . The 40,000-square-foot building will be constructed next door to Philly Youth Basketball's home, the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center, located at 4250 Wissahickon Ave.
Even with $9.2 million in recent funds, a Germantown housing and community center needs more help
You might roll your eyes if a real estate agent tells you about a fixer-upper with a lot of potential. But that truthful line of persuasion has been working for supporters of the Germantown Life Enrichment Center. The center, known as GLEC, is an unusual two-in-one facility at 5722 Greene St. It offers an array of community programming, including pool, fitness, and youth activities, and transitional housing for formerly homeless men.
Philly Youth Basketball hopes a $50M workforce hub can help young adults ‘on a really big scale’
Philly Youth Basketball, a nonprofit that hosts a range of programming within the sport and outside of it from its massive Nicetown facility, is expanding its footprint. On Friday, it announced a $50 million workforce development project called The Generator. The 40,000-square-foot building will be constructed next door to Philly Youth Basketball’s home, the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center, located at 4250 Wissahickon Ave.
18 grassroots organizations sued another Philly nonprofit after it lost over $400,000
A collection of Philadelphia grassroots nonprofits are suing the umbrella organization that lost them hundreds of thousands of dollars from years of mismanagement and poor accounting. The 18 small groups have sued the Federation of Neighborhood Centers, a nonprofit that helped them and other small organizations manage grants. FNC, which operated as a fiscal sponsor for more than 100 Philadelphia grassroots nonprofits, collapsed last year after it was unable to distribute money owed to the groups.
18 grassroots organizations sued another Philly nonprofit after it lost over $400,000
A collection of Philadelphia grassroots nonprofits are suing the umbrella organization that lost them hundreds of thousands of dollars from years of mismanagement and poor accounting. The 18 small groups have sued the Federation of Neighborhood Centers, a nonprofit that helped them and other small organizations manage grants. FNC, which operated as a fiscal sponsor for more than 100 Philadelphia grassroots nonprofits, collapsed last year after it was unable to distribute money owed to the groups.
A contentious Philly library renovation is starting soon, and residents are confused and frustrated
A renovation project to a beloved library should be easy win for a local politician. But plans to rehab the Cecil B. Moore Library have been anything but a win for Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. Young and representatives from the city’s Capital Program Office and the Free Library of Philadelphia gave further details on the $2 million renovations planned for the Cecil B. Moore Library at a community meeting Tuesday.
Southwest Philly residents want to fight neighborhood blight, but say they need the city’s help
It would be hard to imagine a vacant lot of abandoned cars, tires and trash lasting long in Center City before it got taken care of. But a group of Southwest Philly residents say that’s exactly what’s happening in their neighborhood. Their relatively new group, the PA Solidarity Project cataloged roughly 50 instances of blight over the spring, including abandoned cars and houses, illegal dumping, and potholes, and reported them to the city in early June.
Southwest Philly residents want to fight neighborhood blight, but say they need the city's help
It would be hard to imagine a vacant lot of abandoned cars, tires, and trash lasting long in Center City before it got taken care of. But a group of Southwest Philly residents say that's exactly what's happening in their neighborhood. Their relatively new group, the PA Solidarity Project, cataloged roughly 50 instances of blight over the spring, including abandoned cars and houses, illegal dumping, and potholes, and reported them to the city in early June.
LeBron James is partnering with prediction platform Polymarket
PHILADELPHIA - Where LeBron James would choose to play the final years of his storied career was a fixture on prediction markets this summer. Now, James could benefit from the boom of those platforms. On Saturday, James shared a short video on social media announcing a partnership with the prediction platform Polymarket. The Sixer then posted a longer commercial-ready version of the video Tuesday, in which James visits Polymarket's fictional headquarters and its "sports" floor.
LeBron James is partnering with Polymarket, raising ethical concerns Original
Where LeBron James would choose to play the final years of his storied career was a fixture on prediction markets this summer. Now, James could benefit from the boom of those platforms. On Saturday, James shared a short video on social media announcing a partnership with the prediction platform Polymarket. The Sixer then posted a longer commercial-ready version of the video Tuesday, where James visits Polymarket’s fictional headquarters and its “sports” floor.
Penn State cocaine trafficking co-defendants testified against the alleged orchestrator Original
The former Pennsylvania State University student accused of orchestrating a cocaine-trafficking ring has been released on bail, after a preliminary hearing Wednesday where three of his co-defendants testified against him. Agostino Abbatiello, 24, eventually came to be known as the main cocaine supplier on campus, according to a criminal complaint.
Peco upgrades in West Philly are paused after residents say trees will face ‘butchery’
A Peco power project in West Philly that Councilmember Jamie Gauthier described as “critical” for the neighborhood has been delayed, after residents expressed outrage at the electric utility’s plans to trim their beloved tree canopy.
The Cecil B. Moore Library will proceed with a limited renovation plan, leaving $8 million on the table
Philadelphia City Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. intends to move forward with a limited, approximately $2 million renovation plan for the Cecil B. Moore Library in North Philadelphia, according to the city and library staff. Young’s renovation plan for the building at 2320 Cecil B. Moore Ave. includes a new accessible elevator and restrooms, and improvements to the building’s HVAC, plumbing, fire-alarm system, lighting, and signage, according to city spokesperson Sharon Gallagher.
Fairmount Park has become a favored target of illegal tire dumpers with U-Hauls
Michael Glatfelter routinely encounters giant piles of tires as he spins through Fairmount Park on his daily bike rides. Glatfelter, 74, started spying the illegal dumps in secluded areas two years ago. Now he says he encounters them at least once a month and is disgusted by their persistence — even as the city clears the piles within days. “There has to be a way of catching these people,” he said.
Pew gives $1.15 million for a greening program in Nicetown and Tioga
The Pew Charitable Trusts has awarded $1.15 million over the next four years to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to support the next phase of its greening plan in Philadelphia's Nicetown and Tioga neighborhoods. The grant will continue funding the horticultural project, including placing more plants, trees, and flowers, and programs aimed at building community connections.
Pew gives $1.15 million for a greening program in Nicetown and Tioga
The Pew Charitable Trusts has awarded $1.15 million over the next four years to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to support the next phase of its greening plan in the Nicetown and Tioga neighborhoods. The grant will continue funding the “Love Where You Live” greening plan, including placing more plants, trees, and flowers, and programs aimed at building community connections.
Philly has 100-year-old stormwater infrastructure and 72,000 easily clogged inlets
Helplessly watching stormwater fill the basement is among the most frustrating experiences for Philadelphia homeowners. It is especially bad if you are waiting for the city's help to do something about it. In West Mount Airy, Arielle Wolfson, 37, said roads by her home “become a river” when it storms.
Philly has 100-year-old stormwater infrastructure and 72,000 easily clogged inlets
Helplessly watching stormwater fill the basement is among the most frustrating experiences for Philadelphia homeowners. It is especially bad if you are waiting for the city’s help to do something about it. In West Mount Airy, Arielle Wolfson, 37, said roads by her home “become a river” when it storms.
What Philly got out of the World Cup, the nation’s 250th, and the MLB All-Star Game
As the afterglow of the world’s largest sports tournament and the country’s formal 250th birthday party in Philadelphia fades, the city is returning to its regularly scheduled programming.
The return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic will close roads
Listen to article -0:00 min The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is back after a decade-long hiatus, bringing loads of cycling fans, events, and road closures along with it. The race, which dates back to 1985, begins and ends on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It loops up through Fairmount Park to the grueling "Manayunk Wall," and back down for a finish line evoking the Tour de France's conclusion at the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The marquee race takes place on Sunday, Aug.
The return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic will close roads
The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is back after a decade-long hiatus, bringing loads of cycling fans, events, and road closures along with it. The race, which dates back to 1985, begins and ends on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It loops up through Fairmount Park to the grueling “Manayunk Wall,” and back down for a finish line evoking the Tour de France’s conclusion at the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The marquee race takes place on Sunday, Aug. 30, but there’s a weekend full of events leading up to it.
The former Penn State student charged with running a cocaine-trafficking ring turned himself in
The Nittany Lion Shrine at Penn State Abington Campus in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. (Steven M. Falk/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS) PHILADELPHIA - The former Pennsylvania State University student accused of running a cocaine trafficking ring out of fraternity houses surrendered to law enforcement Tuesday morning, the state attorney general's office announced. Agostino Abbatiello, 24, is charged with orchestrating cocaine sales at Penn State over 2023 and 2024, while he was a student there.
The former Penn State student charged with running a cocaine-trafficking ring turned himself in
PHILADELPHIA — The former Pennsylvania State University student accused of running a cocaine trafficking ring out of fraternity houses surrendered to law enforcement Tuesday morning, the state attorney general’s office announced. Agostino Abbatiello, 24, is charged with orchestrating cocaine sales at Penn State over 2023 and 2024, while he was a student there. He eventually became known as the main cocaine dealer on campus, according to a criminal complaint. kAmp332E:6==@ 2?5 2?@E96C 5676?52?E :?
The former Penn State student charged with running a cocaine-trafficking ring turned himself in
Listen to article -0:00 min The former Pennsylvania State University student accused of running a cocaine trafficking ring out of fraternity houses surrendered to law enforcement Tuesday morning, the state attorney general's office announced. Agostino Abbatiello, 24, is charged with orchestrating cocaine sales at Penn State over 2023 and 2024, while he was a student there. He eventually became known as the main cocaine dealer on campus, according to a criminal complaint.
The former Penn State student charged with running a cocaine-trafficking ring turned himself in
The former Penn State student accused of running a cocaine trafficking ring out of fraternity houses surrendered to law enforcement Tuesday morning, the state attorney general’s office announced. Agostino Abbatiello, 24, is charged with orchestrating cocaine sales at Pennsylvania State University over 2023 and 2024, while he was a student there. He eventually became known as the main cocaine dealer on campus, according to a criminal complaint.
14 people were charged in a Penn State fraternity cocaine-trafficking ring Original
Fourteen people have been charged in a cocaine trafficking case at Pennsylvania State University, the state attorney general’s office announced Monday. The drug ring involved students purchasing large quantities of cocaine from Philadelphia and New York, cutting and packaging it at two fraternities, and distributing it to their classmates, prosecutors said. The alleged ring was active from 2023 to 2024, when all but one of the defendants were students at Penn State.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Nate
Contact Nate, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack