Layla A. Jones
Philly Inquirer
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Past articles by Layla:
A state law was supposed to make getting a job easier for ex-offenders. Advocates say it’s at risk.
The law sought to help people get licenses for professions like barbering, nursing, and more. But new state regulations threaten that progress, advocates say. → Read More
Former Acting Controller Christy Brady officially joins the race, likely with Democratic Party support
Christy Brady will officially launch her controller's campaign Tuesday at the Sprinkler Fitter Local 692 union in Northeast Philly. → Read More
Judge tosses opposition to Penn’s plan to rebury Black Philadelphians in Morton Collection
Judge Sheila Woods-Skipper ruled that a group opposing Penn's plan to bury and repatriate the remains Black Philadelphians in the Morton Collection has "no legal standing." → Read More
Philly acting Controller Christy Brady has resigned but remains mum on whether she will run
Acting City Controller Christy Brady resigned one day after news that she received overwhelming support from the Democratic City Committee's policy group. → Read More
Controller candidate drops out of race as City Democratic Committee nears endorsement
City Controller candidate Jack Inacker dropped out of the race and threw his support to Acting Controller Christy Brady, who is considering a run. → Read More
Reparations for Black people: Group urges City Council to create task force and enforce existing law
The city enacted a law in 2005 requiring city-contracted businesses to disclose any profits from or policies on enslavement, and to create a reparations plan. Advocates say it was never enforced. → Read More
Philadelphia has paid COVID sick leave, but some workers must ‘fight for every hour’
Almost a year after COVID sick leave legislation passed, some fear workers may not know they legally have access to paid time off. → Read More
Philly, you can still get paid COVID sick leave. Here’s how.
Here is a guide to all of Philadelphia’s pandemic paid sick time policies and how to apply. → Read More
Penn Museum has identified 20 skulls of Black Philadelphians from its collection of 1,300 remains
The institution has announced plans to bury the human remains. → Read More
Racial makeup of city workers looks more like Philly. Except for the higher-paying jobs.
Studies show Philadelphia city departments have made modest progress in hiring Black people and other people of color in exempt positions. → Read More
A planned slave rebellion. A church burned to the ground. A pastor fleeing to Philadelphia.
The history of the African Methodist Episcopal church is not one for the faint of heart. → Read More
America’s blueprint for urban inequity was drawn in Philly. It failed Black Philadelphians.
From a bus line named Jim Crow to racial violence at public parks, racism shaped Philadelphia. Can we imagine a more equitable city? → Read More
185 years of struggle for an equitable education at Cheyney, America’s first HBCU
A timeline of survival for the Black university that Philadelphia originally refused to fund. → Read More
Al Primo, creator of ‘Eyewitness News,’ has died at 87
Mr. Primo launched Eyewitness News at Philadelphia’s KYW-TV, now CBS, in 1965 as the station’s 30-year-old news director. His makeover of the TV news format ushered in an era of record viewership. → Read More
‘No words to describe the pain’: Mothers in Charge gathered to remember Philly’s gun violence victims
The event was part of the National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims, designated by Congress in 2007 on the same date 19-year-old Lisa Hullinger was murdered in Germany in 1978. → Read More
Headlines from 9/11: How Philadelphia news covered the attack that changed the U.S. forever
On this date in 2001, there were more questions than answers. → Read More
On Labor Day in Philly, unions celebrated with a parade but warned of challenges ahead
Parade organizers and union members emphasized the economic and human rights issues on the line in the upcoming November midterm election. → Read More
Protesters again target Sesame Place over snubbing of Black children
Unlike last week, no arrests were reported. Protesters held a sign with screenshots from Brown’s video and the words “Sesame Place said themselves that this is not ok!” → Read More
How America’s first medical city birthed a racist maternal care system
A Philadelphia story about reproductive rights, American history, and medical racism. → Read More
America’s racist maternal mortality crisis traces back to Philadelphia
From the start, Black people received unequal treatment and were exploited for science. → Read More