Author: Laura Benshoff

Good morning to everyone, except Philadelphia’s sports teams.

Today, we start with a story that underscores how much the economics of everyday life can change overnight. To wit, more than a dozen local school districts and colleges in South Jersey will see their healthcare costs spike next year, a move that will force hard decisions about paying for them, such as choosing between raising property taxes or cutting school resources.

Then, we cover a new move by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to reexamine old life sentences.

Plus, the Trump administration abandons a plan for an ICE detention center in South Jersey, and more news of the day.

— Laura Benshoff / Paola Pérez / Sam Stewart / Tommy Rowan (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Premiums spiking

A reckoning over healthcare costs is hitting New Jersey.

In the short term, health insurance premium costs will rise by more than a third next year for 300,000 public school and county college employees and their families. That includes workers at a dozen school districts in South Jersey, who all participate in the state-administered School Employees’ Health Benefits Program.

The plan was forced to make the major hike or become insolvent, according to Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s administration. But some of the pressures it faces, such as runaway medical costs and the soaring popularity of costly prescription drugs, are broadly applicable.

In the longer term, districts are likely to pass along the pain in order to absorb higher costs. Cutting jobs, reducing student extracurricular activities, and raising property taxes are all strong possibilities, said Jonathan Pushman, advocacy director for the New Jersey School Boards Association.

“A lot of difficult decisions are ahead,” Pushman said.

The Inquirer’s Trenton reporter, Susan K. Livio, has the full story.

Second chances at stake

One man’s fight for a new sentence could give hundreds of others a second chance at freedom.

In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that automatic life sentences could no longer be handed out for second-degree murder. That’s a conviction for a murder that occurs while another serious crime such as a robbery is being committed, even if the defendant did not kill anyone.

At the time, the court wrote that the legislature should figure out a fix for the roughly 1,100 people — including more than 500 convicted in Philadelphia — already serving such sentences. But Harrisburg did not act.

Now, the high court will decide whether their ban applies retroactively by examining the case of Jerome Coffey, a Philadelphia man convicted of second-degree murder in 1994. If it does, that would clear the way for others to ask for new sentences as well.

The Inquirer’s Jillian Kramer has more.

What you should know today

• The Trump administration has abandoned a plan to build an immigrant detention center at a military base in South Jersey.
• A group of Pennsylvania Republicans have asked Attorney General Dave Sunday to investigate whether a “systemic pattern of discrimination” against Jewish students occurs in the Philadelphia School District.
• Kensington Voice, a community news site covering the neighborhoods in the epicenter of the opioid crisis, has shut down, per a letter posted to its site.
• A former Central Bucks School District board member alleges that his autistic son was abused in elementary school and that the district covered up that abuse, according to a new lawsuit.
• The Temple University Health System saw a $22.7 million operating profit in the fiscal year that ended June 30, up slightly from the previous year, the North Philadelphia nonprofit told bondholders this week.
• Consumer Reports is no longer recommending e-scooters, citing rising injuries and higher top speeds for the personal mobility devices.

Quote of the day

The Sprouts grocery on Broad Street wanted a Phanatic fall display, but the likeness is so monstrously unflattering that people have dubbed it the “Fauxnatic,” reports The Inquirer’s Bea Forman.

🧠 Trivia time

A Gloucester County elementary school moved to remote learning this month after what infested the school?

A) Bats

B) Rats

C) Fleas

D) Mice

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🍸 Keeping (bar) tabs on. Almanac, the acclaimed Japanese-American cocktail bar in Old City, is adding a second location in Rittenhouse. Inquirer food writer Michael Klein has the scoop.

📵 Vibing to. Phoebe Bridgers’ recent phone-free show at Xfinity Mobile Arena gave 20,000 people a chance to disconnect (and avoid following the Eagles’ rout by the Bears), writes Inquirer pop critic Dan DeLuca.

🏁 Looking forward to. Next Saturday, 15 Philadelphians will compete in the first Philadelphia Parallel Parking Association Championship. The judges? A legendary bar owner, a viral crossing guard, and an ASMR comedian, per The Inquirer’s Stephanie Farr.

🎷 Tipping our hat to. Upper Darby native Immanuel Wilkins is one of the MacArthur Foundation’s newest “genius grant” recipients, recognized for his work as a leading contemporary jazz musician.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Phillies rookie relief pitcher from St. Thomas, USVI.

ALMANAC REFLEX

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Terry Bradley, who correctly guessed Tuesday’s answer: Lobster House. A video of flooding in this historic Cape May restaurant went viral over the weekend.

Photo of the day

Meet Michelangelo, an African spurred tortoise found ambling around Williamstown earlier this week. Yes, he was named after a character from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

👋 Cowabunga and see you tomorrow!

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Good morning, Philly. Good news: It’s time to bask! The sun should return today and bring with it highs near 75.

Today, we start with a new poll showing that Pennsylvania Democrats have a largely positive view of socialism, even as voters more broadly do not.

Then, we cover a quiet campaign by the School District of Philadelphia to fix a surprise drop in enrollment.

Plus, there’s a movement to pressure City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. not to run again, and more news of the day.

— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Leftward Dems

Let’s start with a number: 40%. That’s the rough proportion of Pennsylvania Democrats who consider themselves to be democratic socialists, according to a new Inquirer/New York Times/Siena University poll.

Why it matters: Philadelphia is likely to send its first democratic socialist, State Rep. Chris Rabb, to Congress this fall. Beyond the next Congress, the leftist wing of the Democratic Party is hoping for momentum heading into the 2028 races.

Caveat: The poll didn’t define “democratic socialism.” And progressives can be overrepresented in these types of surveys.

Big picture: The results represent a major fork. As Democrats shift leftward, 56% of Pennsylvania voters as a whole do not have a favorable view of socialism. Ahead of the midterms, “communist” and “socialist” are terms thrown out by Republicans seeking to paint Democrats as fringe radicals.

The Inquirer’s Sam Janesch has the full breakdown.

Empty seats

With the start of the new school year, the School District of Philadelphia had an unpleasant surprise. Thousands fewer students were showing up than it had anticipated.

That gap represented a critical problem, as federal and state funding for the district is tied to the number of students being educated.

To try to bring them back, district staff — up to and including chiefs and assistant superintendents — are fanning out across the city, pounding the pavement to try to connect with reluctant families face-to-face.

Inquirer education reporter Kristen Graham has this scoop and explains why students may have left.

What you should know today

• People close to Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. have recently encouraged him to reconsider seeking a sixth term, following his decision to take controversial early retirement payments known as DROP.
• Pennsylvania topped 900 measles cases this week.
• Drexel University responded to an offer from the William Penn Foundation to pay for the Academy of Natural Sciences museum to remain open for at last another year with basically: Let’s talk.
• Forty-one people in Philadelphia and surrounding areas were arrested in a federal operation on Monday targeting people wanted for violent felonies living in federally subsidized housing.
• A Bucks County school district hid a child’s gender identity change from the student’s mother and father for nearly three school years, a conservative Christian legal group alleges.
• Montgomery County officials are suing money apps MoneyLion and Dave, alleging they violate Pennsylvania consumer protection law.
• Mayor Cherelle L. Parker marked her 1,000th day in office by breaking ground on a $21.7 million improvement to the McPherson Square library, a symbol of the Kensington opioid crisis.

Quote of the day

LeBron James is coming in with his eyes open about sports fans in Philadelphia.

🧠 Trivia time

Speaking of the 76ers, this company is replacing Crypto.com on the Sixers’ uniform advertising patch this season.

A) Acme Markets

B) Bank of America

C) Independence Blue Cross

D) Bloom Energy

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🌾 Covering. Pennsylvania is home to tens of thousands of farms. Inquirer outdoors reporter Jason Nark found that Airbnb is now paying farmers to list their properties on the site hoping to tap into an agritourism boom.

🥊 Limbering up for. Today kicks off “Rocky Season,” a two-month run of events honoring the iconic Philly film’s 50th anniversary. Don your gray sweats.

🌧️ Asking. Was this past weekend’s nor’easter a practice run? Inquirer weather reporter Anthony R. Wood writes that the El Niño in the Pacific could lead to more nor’easters than normal.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A video of flooding in this historic Cape May restaurant went viral over the weekend.

BLUE SOOTHERS

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Dan Tureck, who correctly guessed Monday’s anagram: Zenos Frudakis. The sculptor created bronze likenesses of Phillies greats displayed at Citizens Bank Park — and the controversial Frank Rizzo statue that was taken down and mothballed in 2020.

Photo of the day

No September collapse for the Phillies, but no guarantee of a Red October either. Godspeed and go Phils!

👋 Have a wonderful Tuesday.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Happy Monday, Philly. The weekend’s soggy streak is expected to taper off this morning, with clouds and highs in the mid-60s to follow.

Today, we start at the Academy of Natural Sciences, as families mourn its closing and elected officials scramble to reverse it.

Then, we’ve got the story of Chester County newlyweds who are still reeling from the sudden detention and, four months later, surprise release of the husband from ICE custody.

Plus, the Phillies are back in the playoffs, and more news of the day.

— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Goodbye, T. Rex

Some came to pay their respects. Some came to protest. But mostly, they kept coming.

Thousands of visitors streamed through the doors and past the dioramas at the Academy of Natural Sciences museum for its final weekend.

Retired educator Rene Garner lined up with her son and granddaughter before the museum opened on Sunday, ready to visit a special place she had brought classes to for years. “This was such a great big part of our lives,” she said.

Others focused not on the past, but on manifesting a future for the nearly 200-year-old institution.

“Stay Open!” one child wrote on an interactive display, complete with a frowny face. “Love Henry.”

The Inquirer’s Kristen Graham and Maggie Prosser have the full report on the last day and what may come next.

Taken, then returned

When it came to Ariel Whaley, Nelson Contreras-Gelves was nervous to make the first move.

The two met in 2023 at Mighty Writers, a local nonprofit educational program for children where she worked and he volunteered. They spent hours side by side, sorting donations. They became smitten.

In 2025, the Chester County couple got engaged, but as their June 2026 wedding drew closer, another date also loomed: Contreras-Gelves’ next check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The 35-year-old is from Venezuela and has a pending asylum claim.

Their caution turned out to be prescient. Just a week after the newlyweds celebrated their marriage, Contreras-Gelves was arrested and detained by ICE during a routine appointment.

The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz has the story of his unexpected release and their uncertain new reality.

What you should know today

• The Phillies squeaked into the playoffs on Sunday with a 7-3 win over the Rays.
• This past weekend’s nor’easter cut a trail of destruction down the Shore and businesses are assessing how long it will take to pick up the pieces.
• The Philadelphia Police Department met with Olney residents on Sunday to prep them for a new phase of the Horsch house search involving “heavy” equipment and a ramped-up police presence.
• After a multiyear delay due to financing issues, an office-to-residential conversion is finally underway in Logan Square.
• Collingswood is considering a proposal to outsource the borough’s ambulance services, one of several competing plans to address an overworked fire department.

Quote of the day

Haverford professor Stephen J. McGovern talked to The Inquirer’s Sean Collins Walsh about how his book helps explain the rise of local progressive elected officials such as District Attorney Larry Krasner.

🧠 Trivia time

New Sixer LeBron James is the oldest active player in the NBA. How old is he?

A) 41

B) 39

C) 43

D) 49

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🍽️ Charting. Are Philly restaurants undergoing “Michelin-flation”? The Inquirer measured the impact of the prestigious dining guide on prices.

📖 Flipping through. Inquirer Culture columnist Elizabeth Wellington compiled 10 books with deep Philly connections for your fall reading lists.

🦅 Watching for. With the Eagles heading to Chicago for a “Monday Night Football” showdown, Inquirer Eagles reporter Jeff Neiburg lays out what you need to know about tonight’s matchup.

🦞 Fact-checking. No, a video of three lobsters serenely breaststroking out of the waterlogged Lobster House restaurant in Cape May was not real.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This sculptor crafted bronze statues of Phillies greats — and Mayor Frank Rizzo.

INFUSED OZARKS

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Jane Szczepaniak who correctly guessed Sunday’s anagram: Pep Boys. The Philadelphia-born auto service chain will lay off dozens of employees at its local corporate offices.

Photo of the day

Here we go again.

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

This is your weekly chance to share a moment that made you feel connected to Philly or fellow Philadelphians. Think of a time you felt you truly belonged in Philly, an iconic day in Philly history that you witnessed, or something that made you fall in love with the city. Then, email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Michael Leibrandt, who shares his love of Philadelphia football beyond the Eagles (and a little bit of history while he’s at it):

The Eagles might be the hottest football ticket in town — but it’s hard to beat a Saturday of college football in autumn. … It’s a Saturday joy in the fall that I anticipate fondly each and every year.

If you are planning on attending the first few college football games of the 2026 University of Pennsylvania football season — you won’t just be seeing any home game — you’ll be witnessing another chapter in a long Philadelphia history. …

The first Penn Football season ever? You probably guessed it already — 150 years ago in 1876. And if you spend any time this football season in Franklin Field like me, you won’t just be attending a college football game like thousands of other Americans. You’ll be seeing it at the oldest college football stadium in America still hosting games to this day.

*This submission was lightly condensed for space.

👋 See ya tomorrow.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Welcome to the weekend, Philly. That pesky early nor’easter is here, bringing with it rain, gusting winds, and cooler temps.

In today’s advice column, we help a reader weigh whether to honor their fifth grader’s plea to take the train to school by himself.

Plus, we cover New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell’s resignation, a last-ditch offer to keep the Academy of Natural Sciences open, and we’ve got our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

What you should know today

• New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned on Friday, after investigators found “credible evidence” of sexual harassment and other wrongdoing.
• The Academy of Natural Sciences museum could remain open for at least another year thanks to a last-minute cash infusion from the William Penn Foundation. But it’s unclear if all the museum’s stakeholders support that offer.
• Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration will rescind a series of proposed vaccine regulations that reignited public outrage toward restrictive pandemic-era policies in Pennsylvania.
• Three local Starbucks locations are closing this week amid a larger company shuttering of roughly 250 stores.
• The University of Pennsylvania is planning one of the largest construction projects in Philadelphia, a $520 million laboratory and classroom building called Penn Discovery Commons.
• Barring a deep run through October, several long-standing Phillies players — including first baseman Alec Bohm — face an uncertain future with the team.
• Philadelphia’s original street food may have been an oft-changing soup called pepper pot. Modern Black chefs want to put it back on local menus.
• From a collapsing Ferris wheel to a golden years cheesesteak crawl, catch up on the good, bad, and weird out of Philly with our weekly news report card.

Old enough, or not so fast?

This week, a reader asked: My fifth grader wants to take Regional Rail back from his downtown magnet school by himself. He’s done a few weeks with an adult so he knows the route, and I can track him on my phone. But he doesn’t have any buddies to walk back with. Is this crazy, or will it help foster independence?

I’m sure many parents in and near the city can relate to this dilemma. To hash out the pros and cons for our dear reader, Inquirer Life & Culture reporter Amy Rosenberg huddled with features columnist Elizabeth Wellington.

Both described having a good measure of independence when they were around the same age, walking to and from school alone. But, they noted, expectations and norms have changed since their latchkey kid days.

Plus, not every fifth grader is the same. Some may show lots of maturity, while others need a few more years to be ready for solo travel.

Read their full conversation here. Need advice, or want to share your thoughts? We want to hear it. Email us here.

One viewpoint

Is SEPTA finally “getting there”?

In this week’s Shackamaxon column, Inquirer opinion writer Daniel Pearson argues that the transit authority has earned some plaudits.

Crime and fare evasion are down, thanks to dozens of additional transit police officers and a new initiative to install taller fare gates. Ridership is up, especially on bus routes that are part of the New Bus Network. Stations are cleaner. All of this has helped push customer satisfaction to record highs.

All of this makes Pearson optimistic about SEPTA’s future and its ability to deliver on plans to keep improving, despite its perennial need to nag Harrisburg for more funding. Read on for Pearson’s full take, along with his musings as to whether bipartisanship is dead in the commonwealth.

❓Pop quiz

Delta Airlines announced it is ending daily flights from Philly to what city, mere months after starting them?

A) Miami

B) Seattle

C) Austin

D) Nashville

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A new micro museum in Fishtown.

EUPHONIUM HEADLAMP LEFTISH

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Diane Zaborowski, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Five Below. Crocs is suing this Philadelphia-based retailer, alleging it knowingly knocked off the footwear company’s ubiquitous foam clogs.

We were there

Inquirer reporter Michelle Baruchman and photographer Aidan T. Gallo were there when Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, potential rivals for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, met at a Bella Vista diner to rally Democratic volunteers for the midterm.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

🏀 LeBron James opened up about his decision to join the 76ers on his podcast Mind the Game. Tyrese Maxey made a call.

🗞️ Shoutout to the “weirdly jazzed” reader who just subscribed to get The Inquirer in print on Sundays. Your support is greatly appreciated!

🪿 I knew about the SEPTA socks, but I did not know about the Wawa hair clip — until now.

👋 Thanks for spending some of your Saturday with me. Paola Pérez will be back tomorrow.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Happy Friday. A nor’easter is bearing down on the Jersey Shore, but here in Philly we’re only expecting a chance of showers and highs around 70 degrees.

It’s been a newsy week. Today, we’ve got an exclusive interview with the 9-year-old girl who escaped abduction by Raymond Horsch.

Plus, we cover why Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and City Council aren’t on the same page about her housing plans, and more top stories.

But first, let’s start with a potential medical breakthrough: A novel treatment for melanoma tested at Penn could mark a turning point in using mRNA vaccines to fight cancer.

— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

mRNA vaccine for cancer

When mRNA vaccines were developed to combat the coronavirus pandemic, using Nobel Prize-winning research conducted at Penn, it sparked a clinical interest in using them to combat other ailments.

But at first, they were proven useful only against infectious diseases, not cancer.

That could now be changing. A late-stage clinical trial conducted at Penn and dozens of other sites extended the time it took for one type of cancer to return or spread, according to preliminary findings released by drugmakers Merck and Moderna.

In the trial, melanoma patients who had already had surgery to remove cancerous growths received a tailored mRNA vaccine to try to destroy any remaining cancer cells.

Participant Denise Fitzsimmons, a 63-year-old grandmother from Birdsboro, Pa., said she hopes the trial will lead to a more enduring remission for her cancer.

“My fifth granddaughter is on her way,” she said. “So I have a lot to live for.”

The Inquirer’s Kayla Yup has the full story on the trial and what questions remain about this technology.

“I escaped something big.”

When she was just 9 years old, Ashley Rivera walked from her home in Kensington to the 7-Eleven across the street to grab a snack.

On her walk back, she noticed a man in his 60s, slowly rolling past in a green Jeep. He had long, greasy, stringy hair, and was looking right at her.

She ignored him, until he pulled up and asked her to get into his car.

This week, Rivera realized who the man who tried to abduct her was: Raymond “R.C.” Horsch, the shock-seeking pornographer now linked to at least seven missing women.

“I really do feel like I escaped something big,” Rivera told The Inquirer.

Read on for The Inquirer’s exclusive interview with Rivera and her mother.

What you should know today

• Mayor Cherelle L. Parker hopes to pass a 20-year property tax break for large, deteriorating buildings that are rehabbed into housing, but not all of City Council is on board.
• City Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. has proposed a new zoning bill to keep the Academy of Natural Sciences building from being converted into housing or commercial space after the museum closes its doors.
• A large majority of likely Pennsylvania voters have an unfavorable opinion of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to a new Philadelphia Inquirer/New York Times/Siena University poll.
• The CDC showed one measles-related fatality on its online dashboard Wednesday, even as Pennsylvania counts a total of four, continuing a pattern where state and federal health agencies differ in communicating about the ongoing outbreak.
• An Irish man with a green card application pending was arrested by ICE while trying to fly home to Philadelphia from California, part of a trend of increased immigration enforcement at airports.
• Activists misled by a Philadelphia educator who lied about her ethnicity are asking the school district to “hold [her] accountable for the harm she caused.”

Plus: Is there an age limit for serving on a jury in Pennsylvania?

Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday, our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks and then we report the answers.

This week, we have an explainer from reporter Michelle Myers on a civic call that we’re all obligated to answer: jury duty. While it’s possible to be excused from serving on a jury for various hardships, a reader wondered if it’s possible to age out of this responsibility altogether in the state.

The short answer, as Michelle found, is it depends on which court has issued the summons.

Read on for her full story and more information about an effort to enact an age limit in Pennsylvania.

Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.

🧠 Trivia time

Which Philly neighborhood housed the first Ronald McDonald House?

A) Center City

B) North Philadelphia

C) West Philadelphia

D) South Philadelphia

Test your local news expertise and check your answer in our weekly quiz.

What we’re …

🦅 Monitoring. Eagles tailgates can get elaborate. Think DJs, tents and multicourse meals. But now, diehard tailgaters are concerned new parking restrictions at the Linc would rein in the fun.

☕️ Tracking. Call it the Miss Rachel effect. When the online educator shouted out Blended Joe Coffee Bar in South Jersey, customers started pouring in from far and wide, writes The Inquirer’s Sarah Nicell.

📖 Breaking down. The scandal currently rocking Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office can feel a little convoluted. Luckily, The Inquirer’s Chris Palmer made a gripping timeline of each twist in the underlying case.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Crocs is suing this Philadelphia-based retailer, alleging it knowingly knocked off the footwear company’s ubiquitous foam clogs.

BELIEF VOW

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Jim Keenan, who correctly guessed Thursday’s answer: Villanova University. A new ordinance seeks to give officials in Tredyffrin Township more power to address “raucous student housing” catering to those attending this school.

Photo of the day

Happy 100 years to a jazz legend.

👋 We made it to Friday. I’m subbing in for Paola Pérez so I’ll see you tomorrow, too.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Good morning, Philly. We’re in for a sunny, but breezy, crisp fall day with highs near the upper 60s.

Today, we start with new polling on Sen. John Fetterman, whose sinking popularity demonstrates that you don’t have to be up for reelection this midterm to affect your party’s mojo.

And, we look into whether a recent spate of restaurant citations signify a new inspection regime in Philadelphia.

Plus, Pennsylvania’s measles case count has topped 800, and more news of the day.

— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Midterm jitters

Sen. John Fetterman isn’t on the ballot this November, but his recent behavior has become a source of anxiety among his Democratic colleagues.

Following his participation in the Republican Party’s midterm convention, and recent reporting alleging a lack of interest in his job, Fetterman’s favorability with voters has dipped lower than ever, according to an Inquirer/New York Times/Siena University poll.

By the numbers: For the first time in this polling series, a plurality of likely Pennsylvania voters have a negative view of Fetterman: 47%. And, a majority say they view him as more of a Republican than a Democrat.

Why it matters: Fetterman’s recent breaks with his party are making Democrats nervous. If Democrats retake the Senate majority by one or two votes, his role as a wild card could enable or foil the party’s plans to act as a check on President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Read on for other fresh takeaways from Pennsylvania voters.

Inspection lottery

Restaurant sanitation inspections are an important public health measure. They can also be reassuring to customers, who look to the reports for details about how their food is prepared.

But recent high-profile enforcement against restaurants that say they hadn’t been penalized previously for the issues raised sent shivers through the food industry.

Take Stargazy, a British restaurant on Passyunk Avenue that for years offered a Friday fish-and-chips special, only to be told recently that it had to get rid of its deep fryer.

Then, there’s Heavy Metal Sausage. The darling of best-of lists recently had to halt dinner service after a Health Department citation. Its owners say this was a hit to their revenue.

For its part, the city says its rules have not changed and there is no crackdown.

Inquirer food writer Michael Klein explains how both of these things can be true.

What you should know today

• Pennsylvania’s measles case count topped 800 on Wednesday and a local outbreak continues to grow in Chester County.
• One in four Pennsylvania voters in her own party doesn’t know who Republican gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity is, according to new polling by The Inquirer, the New York Times, and Siena University.
• In response to a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice, attorneys representing top Philadelphia elected officials have argued that the federal government cannot force city employees to assist in immigration enforcement.
• State Rep. Chris Rabb’s former campaign treasurer pleaded guilty to embezzling a total of about $1 million from his congressional campaign and her other clients.
• Following a joint investigation by the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Philly police, 10 alleged drug traffickers have been charged following a yearslong investigation into an operation that sent millions of dollars of cocaine into Philadelphia.
• A group of 18 Philadelphia grassroots nonprofits are suing an umbrella organization that lost them hundreds of thousands of dollars through mismanagement and poor accounting practices.

Quote of the day

Pennsylvania Republicans such as former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta worked behind the scenes to secure presidential clemency for John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty.

Read The Inquirer’s Chris Palmer and Andrew Seidman to learn how they came to rally around the onetime Democratic heavyweight.

🧠 Trivia time

Masked thieves stole what from a tractor-trailer in South Philly earlier this week.

A) Dimes

B) Crab legs

C) Beef ribs

D) Televisions

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🎟️ Scoping out. Acts from Gorillaz to Tom Jones to Phoebe Bridgers will be playing in our area in the coming days. The Inquirer’s Dan DeLuca has a full concert list to help plan your weekend.

🏢 Inspired by. When aging congregants of a West Philly church needed affordable senior housing, The Inquirer’s Michaelle Bond reports, the church responded by building it.

🇯🇵 Taking note of. Food writer Michael Klein has the lowdown on a new Japanese comfort-food takeout spot that has opened on West Passyunk, specializing in breaded cutlets called katsu.

🎤 Chuckling at. Live comedy is a high-wire act. The Inquirer’s Earl Hopkins has the full rundown of shows coming this fall that are too big to flop.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A new ordinance seeks to give officials in one corner of Chester County more power to address unruly students from this school, who rent houses nearby.

INVASIVE VOLUNTARILY

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Wednesday’s answer was tricky. We received far fewer submissions than average. Cheers to Charlene M. Wiltshire, who correctly guessed the anagram: TRACON. Flight delays at PHL lingered into Tuesday after communication at this, the FAA name for air traffic control facilities, went on the fritz.

Photo of the day

Love it or hate it, the Rocky statue is back on top of the Art Museum steps.

Hope your day is also tops. See you tomorrow 👋

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Good morning, Philly. Expect more breezy, fall-like weather with a side of coastal flooding.

Today, we have an exclusive update in the case of seven missing women linked to a house in Olney: The Inquirer has uncovered a 2009 sex crimes conviction against its owner, Raymond “R.C.” Horsch.

And, we explore whether the turmoil roiling Philly District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office could derail his political ambitions.

Plus, a Philadelphia teacher faces public backlash for lying about having Black and Palestinian heritage, and more news of the day.

— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. Do you live in Radnor, Haverford, or the Greater Abington area? Sign up for one of our brand-new newsletters to get your free weekly guide to the news, stories, and events shaping life in your community. Call another suburban place home? Check out the rest of our locally focused newsletters.

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

A conviction for Horsch

With every new allegation in the sprawling missing-persons case centered on the home of Raymond “R.C.” Horsch, I keep coming back to one question: What did police know about Horsch?

It turns out, he had one conviction that had not been previously reported and that suggests law enforcement was alerted to his potentially violent behavior nearly two decades ago.

In 2009, Horsch was driving his green Jeep Wrangler around Kensington when he saw a 9-year-old girl. “Come here, in my car, sexy girl,” he told her, according to an arrest report. Instead, the girl fled home, where her mother called the police.

Horsch was later convicted of two misdemeanor counts of luring a child into a motor vehicle and corrupting the morals of a minor. He appealed.

This time, the girl and her mother were afraid to testify against Horsch a second time. The case fell apart. Horsch petitioned to have the records related to his prior conviction expunged.

The Inquirer is now fighting in court to preserve them, arguing that they may contain information important to the public and investigators.

Read the full story here.

Future in question

After a federal judge last week openly declared that Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner may have committed federal crimes, speculation began swirling over his political future.

One notable reaction was silence. Most prominent elected officials, including some of Krasner’s ardent supporters, have not publicly come to his defense.

The Inquirer has also learned that at least two elected Democrats have spoken to ward leaders about filling the district attorney role if Krasner were to be forced out of office.

For his part, Krasner has long operated outside of the Democratic Party organization, winning without ever receiving the party’s endorsement. In a statement to The Inquirer, Krasner called Diamond’s comments merely “accusations.”

The Inquirer’s Anna Orso has the full lowdown.

What you should know today

• Hannah Gann, a veteran Philadelphia School District educator and prominent activist, revealed on social media that she had lied for years about having Black and Palestinian heritage.
• Zymire Hughes, the man charged with aggravated assault over allegedly wearing a Chucky-like mask and harrassing passersby in Center City last month, appeared in court Tuesday.
• People who buy health insurance through Pennsylvania’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, Pennie, can expect double-digit rate hikes next year.
• Gov. Josh Shapiro has amassed a $60 million war chest for a reelection campaign that’s not looking very competitive. So how could he spend all that cash?
• New Jersey is one of eight states now suing the Trump administration over its attempts to cancel offshore wind leases and pay companies to instead develop fossil fuel projects.
• A data center in Vineland, N.J., has been hit with more than $1 million in fines for installing natural-gas generators without proper permits.

Quote of the day

Historic Wonderland Pier in Ocean City, N.J., is showing signs of collapse.

The Inquirer’s Amy S. Rosenberg reports the owner/developer who planned to preserve rides like the pier’s Ferris wheel now says he may instead have to dismantle them.

🧠 Trivia time

Inquirer atmosphere reporter Anthony R. Wood recently used this term to describe the transition from summer into fall.

A) Equinoctial flip

B) Autumnal shift

C) Summer slide

D) Astronomical fall

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🏀 Saving up for. The massive additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to the 76ers lineup have pushed up ticket prices, giving some fans sticker shock.

🚋 Nostalgic for. SEPTA’s recent revamp of route names and signs provided the agency with an unexpected business opportunity. It’s now selling decommissioned transit signs for up to $350 a pop.

🌸 Touring. Lynnewood Hall, a Gilded Age mansion in Elkins Park, is opening to the public for the first time in 84 years for a flower show.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Flight delays at PHL lingered into Tuesday after communication at this, the FAA name for air traffic control facilities, went on the fritz.

CARTON

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Lindsay Carter, who correctly guessed Tuesday’s answer: Zach Ertz. On the day that tests revealed Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert sprained an MCL and will miss multiple weeks, the Eagles announced the signing of Ertz, a fan-favorite name from the past.

Photo of the day

A moody and atmospheric photo to match the cooler temps we’re in for this week.

Many thanks to Tommy Rowan for taking the reins yesterday. See you tomorrow, Philly 👋

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Happy Monday, Philly. We’re in for some sunshine, with highs near the low 70s.

Today, we start with a question: Where, exactly, does Fishtown begin and end?

Then, our reporters have uncovered an uncanny connection to a crematorium in the sprawling missing persons investigation centered on the Olney home of Raymond “R.C.” Horsch.

Plus, Pennsylvania officials struggle to balance transparency and privacy concerns in measles cases, and more news of the day.

— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

What’s in a name?

Decades of gentrification in the River Wards have blurred Fishtown’s borders.

Developers tagged their properties with the desirable neighborhood name as they ventured into sections of Kensington.

New residents also adopted the moniker, hanging fish placards on homes well north of what would have been considered Fishtown years ago.

What’s at stake is more than what to call a few blocks: A neighborhood name can shape a place’s identity, its perceived desirability, and even how it is marketed and valued.

At the same time, these borders can be informal by design.

“There never really was a Fishtown, government-wise. It was a localism,” explains Kenneth Milano, a Kensington-born historian and cofounder of the Kensington History Project.

The Inquirer’s Michael Klein and Sam Morris investigate Fishtown’s changing boundaries.

Ashes in Kensington

A piece of art created by the late Raymond “R.C.” Horsch points to a bizarre connection.

It shows a woman’s body being loaded into an incinerator.

Horsch, who died of a lung condition last year, is at the center of a sweeping investigation into the disappearances of seven women, some of whom were last seen at his home in Olney. So far no remains have been recovered.

Horsch was also an artist and pornographer, capturing women in addiction, sometimes in violent scenarios. Some of those images were staged. But local and federal investigators believe others show evidence of harm.

In a 2014 art exhibition, Horsch played a video of an autopsied body in a crematorium. The Inquirer has uncovered that it was taken in a facility affiliated with the notorious Garzone Funeral Home, which was shut down in 2007 over illegal body parts sales. Police are now investigating that connection.

Read more from The Inquirer’s Ryan W. Briggs, Max Marin, Barbara Laker, and Ellie Rushing.

What you should know today

• Some experts say Pennsylvania has a duty to share more about confirmed measles cases to try to combat misinformation, despite privacy laws that limit sharing identifiable information.
• Speaking of measles, Philadelphia health officials are notifying visitors to the PHL airport of a possible measles exposure last week.
• Vanguard, the investment giant based in Malvern, recently lost market share for the first time in 50 years.
• In much of the country, buyers have the upper hand in home sales these days. Not so in Bucks, Montgomery, and Chester Counties, according to a new report.
• Delta is adding a nonstop flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Los Angeles, starting next summer.
• During his performance at the Linc this weekend, Ed Sheeran addressed backlash to the decision to drop Macklemore as an opening act, after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian remarks onstage.
• A couple of Phillies rookies helped carry the team to a Sunday win over the Mets.

Quote of the day

Enforcing Lower Merion’s ban on gas-powered leaf blowers seemed like it would be a breeze.

But now, the policy is pitting neighbors against each other and straining township resources, reports The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner.

🧠 Trivia time

For one weekend in September, Phoenixville will transform into this fictional town from Gilmore Girls.

A) Mayberry

B) Springfield

C) Widow’s Bay

D) Stars Hollow

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

❄️ Forecasting. With the fall equinox on Tuesday, The Inquirer’s weather reporter Tony Wood turns his attention to predictions about the upcoming winter.

🪡 Profiling. Many small businesses close when owners can’t find a successor, but a tailor shop in Bucks County bucks that trend. A fifth generation is set to take over, writes The Inquirer’s Jess Rohan.

🛷 Checking out. Do you dream of hurtling down an icy track at speeds befitting a local highway? The Inquirer’s Maggie Prosser visited a Malvern business park to see how USA Luge recruits the next generation of sliders.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Rapper and cohost of the podcast Million Dollaz Worth of Game.

ALIKE GLIDING

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Mattingly Cohen, who correctly guessed Sunday’s anagram: Michelle Zauner. The Crying in H Mart author and leader of the Philly-born pop band Japanese Breakfast has a new memoir on the way.

Photo of the day

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

It’s time for our weekly ‘only in Philly’ feature, where we elevate stories from our readers. Email us a colorful anecdote about life in Philly for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from me! A couple of weeks ago, I was walking near my home in South Philly, when I encountered the following:

Three little girls who must have been 7 or 8 years old stopped me on the street and asked if they could sing me “a carol.”

I said “Sure,” and looked around to see if any parents nearby had put them up to it. I didn’t see anyone.

They launched into a song mostly in unison that I couldn’t quite place until they got to the chorus: “I don’t want to lose your love, toniiiiiight.” They hit that line with gusto and then stopped, the tallest giving a small nod of satisfaction with their performance. Then, they traipsed off into the early evening.

The mid-’80s Outfield hit “Your Love,” about a one-night stand is not my idea of a carol but it was cute nonetheless.

👋 Thanks for spending some of your Monday with The Inquirer.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.