Matt O'Donnell

05/29/2022

Thx to the entire Broncs squad for making this such a blast of a season. Good luck to the Griffs in NCAA Regionals as they represent the MAAC.
Most of all, congrats to our son for a wonderful season!

05/25/2022

Teacher, student killed in Texas school shooting identified: What we know about victims

We are a highly educated, wealthy and civilized society that, on the face of it at least, seems willing to accept the possibility that such school massacres can happen at any time. Thoughts and prayers have not moved the needle on preventing more.
Two things are certain after incidents like this: gun control proposals go nowhere in Congress and more and more people rush to gun stores to buy even more weapons.
What does this tell us?

Fourth-grade teacher Eva Mireles was killed along with at least 19 children in a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

05/24/2022

Worker attacked at 30th Street Station shares story from hospital: 'I sprayed him with Windex'

The victim, who is also an actor, thinks his unconventional tactic saved him from being stabbed to death in the station’s bathroom.

Looking for a way to protect himself from the knife-wielding attacker, Markell Tilley grabbed the nearest item he could find - a bottle of Windex.

05/22/2022

The Pennsylvania primary offered drama in just about every race:
- Kathy Barnette making a late move to try and lap fellow Republicans Mehmet Oz and Dave McCormick, who both now await a possible recount
- John Fetterman being unable to campaign in the final days due to a stroke, only to wallop his Democratic competition anyway
- Josh Shapiro, finding himself without any primary competition, decides to aid Doug Mastriano’s campaign to ensure they will face each other in November

We discuss all of these headlines on #insidestory with PA Republican strategist Alison Young and Philadelphia Democratic City Committee Chair Bob Brady.
Sunday 11:30am on 6abc.

05/18/2022

Election Results 2022: Live updates in the Pennsylvania Primary Elections

Get results for more races, including for lieutenant governor, Congress and state house and senate races:

Get the latest 2022 Election Day results from Action News

05/18/2022

Josh Shapiro, Doug Mastriano projected winners in primary for Pennsylvania governor

Mainstream Republicans worked during the last week to try and prevent a Mastriano victory, given his insistence the 2020 election was stolen and his flirtations with far-right supporters. They failed.
While Josh Shapiro, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination, had to spend Primary Day at home after testing positive for COVID-19.

Doug Mastriano, a retired U.S. Army colonel and state senator since 2019 who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, will face Democrat Josh Shapiro in the November election.

05/18/2022

John Fetterman wins Democratic Senate primary in Pennsylvania days after stroke

The lieutenant governor was unable to attend his victory party last night, instead undergoing a three-hour surgery to implant a pacemaker and defibrillator. Fetterman awaits the winner of the GOP nomination, which could take days.

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman has won the state's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate just days after suffering a stroke.

05/18/2022

Mehmet Oz, Dave McCormick neck and neck in Pennsylvania's GOP Senate primary

Both Republican candidates are tied at 31%, separated by about 2,600 votes. Upstart Kathy Barnette gave the front runners a scare, gathering an impressive 25% of the primary vote.

The night's most closely watched race in Pennsylvania's GOP Senate contest is still too close to call.

05/16/2022

Inside Story - What do voters really care about in 2022?

This was the real "ah-ha!" moment during #insidestory over the weekend. Maybe you've noticed so many of the political ads this primary season tend to focus on fringe issues on the left or right. But what do voters really care about? Pennsylvania Capital-Star's John Micek has the simple answer:

05/15/2022

The Pennsylvania primaries for governor and US senate are crowded - and getting more and more chaotic.
We get help from legendary pollster Terry Madonna and political ace John Micek to size things up on #insidestory Sunday 11:30am on 6abc.

05/13/2022

Game 6: 76ers eliminated from NBA playoffs after falling to Heat 99-90

So what needs to be fixed? Fire the coach? Drop Harden? Find a better backup center and limit Embiid’s minutes during the regular? Start tanking and re-start the process?
I’m listening…

Jimmy Butler scored 32 points and waved "bye bye" to the Philly crowd as he sent the Miami Heat into the Eastern Conference finals with a 99-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night in Game 6.

05/10/2022

The Curtis Cup, the 42-year-old event contested between the best female amateur golfers from the US and a team from Great Britain and Ireland, is in exactly one month at Merion Golf Club.
I was honored to be there for media day, hear from 2022 Team USA member Emilia Migliaccio and play this absolute gem of a golf course.
I also saw some old friends and met some new ones - including one who was nice enough to take some pictures for me!
The Curtis Cup
June 10-12
Merion Golf Club
Admission is free; info below:

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/championships/2022/curtis-cup.html#!latest

05/09/2022

76ers' Joel Embiid snubbed for MVP; honor goes to Denver's Nikola Jokic again: ESPN

This will only serve as playoff motivation for him, believe me.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that, for the second straight year, the honor is going to Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

05/06/2022

I Learned This On The Internet: Episode 5

Some helpful tips for your Friday!

6abcs' Matt O'Donnell brings you episode 5 of "I Learned This on the Internet", and includes fun facts about preserving your phone's battery and amplifying the sound on your phone's speaker.

05/05/2022

Bodycam video shows NJ officers, good Samaritans rescue driver who plunged off pier

You will be amazed by their bravery, heroism, quickness - and expertise.

Body camera footage obtained by Action News shows the intense moments as three officers and good Samaritans try to save a driver who plunged off a fishing pier last month.

05/04/2022

Meet Al Schmidt, new CEO of government watchdog 'Committee of Seventy'

Some say this local Republican helped save the 2020 presidential election. His next goal is to save Democracy itself.
#insidestory in case you missed it:

He outlines his plans for this 100-year-old institution to encourage citizens to stay engaged in the political process and ask for more transparency in local government.

05/03/2022

Supreme Court apparently to overturn Roe v. Wade abortion case, draft opinion shows: REPORT

Politico says it obtained the draft from a "person familiar with the court's proceedings". It is dated February 10, 2022.

An apparent draft Supreme Court opinion obtained by Politico shows the panel's conservative majority of justices is ready to overturn nearly 50 years of established abortion rights precedent since Roe v. Wade.

05/01/2022

Philadelphia Republican Al Schmidt was one of those elections officials who pushed back on lies and subterfuge when it came to the 2020 presidential race.
As the 2022 mid-terms approach, Schmidt is entering a new role as head of the Committee of Seventy. Now, he believes the future of democracy is at stake.
Watch my interview on #insidestory Sunday 11:30am on 6abc.

04/29/2022

76ers beat Raptors 132-97, advance to 2nd round of NBA Playoffs

James Harden saves his best for last, in his best game as a Sixer in the playoffs.
The Sixers begin Round 2 on the road in Miami against the Heat. Game 1 is Monday night.

Joel Embiid had 33 points and 10 rebounds, James Harden added 22 points and 15 assists and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 132-97 in Game 6 to end the first-round series Thursday night.

04/29/2022

NFL Draft round 1: Eagles draft Jordan Davis and trade for Titans WR A.J. Brown

Scoring more touchdowns and snacking on more quarterbacks .. who’s in?

The Eagles acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown from Tennessee after swapping picks with Houston to move up and select Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis at No. 13 in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night.

04/25/2022

To be in the presence of Jay Wright is to feel ... well, present. Present in a sense that doesn't really happen so often these days. Allow me to explain.
I relished the opportunity to sit down with the Villanova basketball coach in September of 2018, right after he won his second NCAA championship, for a podcast interview. As usual, I had a million questions in mind - along with a sense that this conversation should lead us anywhere Coach Wright chose to go.
We sat at a conference table in his office and he talked about maybe coaching in the NBA (he never really shot it down completely), he talked about leadership (which is so often making people do something they may not be excited about doing) and he talked about his suits and perfect hair (he likes to look good, what's wrong with that?).
The lasting impression I took from our conversation is how much Coach Wright made me feel like he was listening. The whole time. That he and I were talking without distraction. Looking one another in the eye. Never trailing off in thought. Two people in a room having a discussion about sports and other stuff - and how often does this happen anymore?
Listening is hard.
Some people believe Coach Wright is a genius for what he was able to build at Villanova University and I agree with them. What lies deeper than those championships and tradition and accolades and way more wins than losses is his fundamental ability to communicate and understand. To be present in the moment.
We should all become better listeners (I'm one of those people still working on it). And we should savor the chance to learn from the people who do it better than anyone else.
Best of luck to Coach Wright, one of the best listeners I've ever met.

04/21/2022

Joel Embiid hits winning 3 in OT, 76ers beat Raptors for 3-0 lead

Just another day for the leading MVP candidate.
Watch the game winner and get ready for Game 4 in Toronto Saturday afternoon.

Joel Embiid made a 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left in overtime to give the Philadelphia 76ers a 104-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night and a 3-0 lead in their first-round series.

04/21/2022

Villanova's Jay Wright retiring as head coach; Kyle Neptune to take over

This was completely unexpected and shocking to the world outside of the Villanova campus. Wright is 60 years old and hands over the coaching reins to Neptune, the Fordham basketball coach who used to work under Wright.
The two-time NCAA title winner will remain at Villanova in a new role assisting the university president.

"It's time for us to enter a new era of Villanova basketball," Jay Wright said in a statement. "After 35 years in coaching, I am proud and excited to hand over the reins to Villanova's next coach."

04/19/2022

Fleet of brand new Hyundai vehicles stolen in South Philly: Police

It's a local case of hiding in plain site.
Authorities don't even know how many cars were taken or where they went. They do know one thing: all of the vehicles had the keys in the ignition.

MASS THEFT: A fleet of brand new Hyundai vehicles was stolen in South Philadelphia, police say.

04/19/2022

How former President Donald Trump is impacting the Senate race, PA Primary

The former president is getting more and more involved in the senate and governor’s races in PA. Will it make a difference?
Inside Story in case you missed it - with a click below.

Former President Trump is hovering over two big mid-term races in Pennsylvania - one of which could be the race to watch in the entire country.

04/17/2022

Former President Trump is getting more and more involved in Pennsylvania’s two massively important mid-term races and some of his own supporters don’t like it. We get superb analysis from Pennsylvania Capital-Gazette editor John Micek and Republican strategist Alison Young on #insidestory
Watch Sunday 11:30am on 6abc.

04/13/2022

Phillies' Alec Bohm gets standing ovation night after 3 errors, choice words

Who says Philadelphia fans don't kiss and make up?

BOHM CHEERED: "Everything that I've been led to believe about Philadelphia, that was the exact opposite. That was incredible," Nick Castellanos said.

04/12/2022

Action News Special Report: "Chasing the Dragon - The New Meth"

Find out why a new, powerful and dangerous version of an illegal drug is ravaging communities and how a former addict was able to break the cycle of substance abuse. And please, share your stories in the comments section if your life has been touched by addiction and dependency.

April 5, 2022"Chasing the dragon" is the term addicts use to describe seeking that next high. Authorities are seeing more and more of that with methamphetami...

04/11/2022

Incoming Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington, Sr. outlines his plans for Philadelphia Schools

Watch my conversation with the new leader of the city’s public schools on Inside Story - if you missed it.

Dr. Watlington talks of his holistic approach to schooling, including parents and community, how he will deal with unions coming from a 'right to work state, and how his humble beginnings as a school bus driver and custodian have shaped his view of education.

04/10/2022

Introducing: Dr. Tony Watlington, the incoming superintendent of the Philadelphia School District. I had a wide-ranging conversation with him as he sat in the office of his current job as leader of a school system in North Carolina.
Philadelphia, meet Dr. W on Inside Story Sunday 11:30am on 6abc.

04/09/2022

Decompressing from a whirlwind of a day. Almost “hit for the cycle” in taking part in the 4am-6am, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 11pm broadcasts on Friday. Ran into a bunch of people I haven’t seen in a while. Hello people!