Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Bentley Graves as principal in its Minneapolis office.
Work is underway for a $11.5 million beautification project, led by a partnership between the City of Philadelphia, Mural Arts Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. The first phase of this initiative will focus on seven major transportation gateways to the city, each receiving graffiti removal, new landscaping, fresh murals, and enhanced maintenance. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker wants to ensure that, “Philadelphia makes the right first impression as we prepare to welcome the nation and the world.” The initiative is funded by $6.5 million from the city, $3.5 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, private donations, and philanthropy.
Broad Street will undergo an estimated $150 million project that will create new landscaping and public art to line the street, designing a new Avenue of the Arts south streetscape. Construction is scheduled to start at the end of January on a small strip between Spruce and Pine Streets. Eventually, all of the blocks between City Hall and Washington Avenue will be remade, pending funding. The long‑term plan aims to build a greener, safer, and more cohesive public realm along the full Avenue of the Arts corridor.
Crystal Edwards, principal at William D. Kelley School, jumped at the opportunity to convert a science lab into a dental clinic—now available to any child in Philadelphia, regardless of insurance coverage and whether they attend Kelley. Operated by Temple University’s Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, the clinic—led by Temple dental professor Eileen Barfuss and supported by supervised dental students—has served nearly 700 patients. As school district officials prepare for their Facilities Planning Process, they draw inspiration from the Kelley clinic.
The Defender Association of Philadelphia has launched a new initiative to support individuals facing immigration consequences both within and outside the criminal justice system. Led by veteran immigration attorney Lilah Thompson, the agency’s Immigration Law Practice is expected to expand to nearly a dozen full-time staff. The association also anticipates taking on more cases challenging federal mandatory detention efforts.
The Philadelphia Department of Commerce’s Office of Business Development has awarded $450,000 in Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Matches to 21 life sciences companies that recently received federal awards to turn their research into real‑world products.
By the end of 2026, Montgomery County will operate three emergency short‑term shelters with a combined 190 beds in Pottstown, Lansdale, and Norristown. The three‑member Board of Commissioners, which includes two Democrats and one Republican, has shown unity over the past year—both in addressing homelessness and in approving a county budget that included a modest property‑tax increase.
New Bucks County Sheriff Danny Ceisler put the 287(g) program on pause and will file the paperwork to withdraw from the federal force‑multiplier program, formally ending county participation by the end of the month. The move fulfills his campaign promise and reverses the policy of former Sheriff Fred Harran, who had trained deputies to act as federal immigration agents under the program.
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Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.
February 10, 2026
February 9, 2026
February 9, 2026
