Author: Paola Pérez

Welcome to Sunday. Showers and thunderstorms are likely throughout the day.

Our main read examines a riverside neighborhood in Northwest Philly as it embarks on another new era.

And a new tool has forged a faster path to fill the ranks of Philadelphia’s police force.

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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From Banana Republic to boutiques

Manayunk has taken different shapes from its textile mill days in the 19th century to chain retailers in the 1990s. Today, you’ll find a collection of local upstarts scattered across its main corridor.

More changes are coming, including:

🏠 More housing. An apartment boom promises to add more than 1,800 residential units, though neighbors have concerns about traffic and parking.

🛍️ New commerce. In the last two years, 12 new businesses have opened along Main Street, and others are on the way. Retailers have hopes that the ongoing residential development will be good for business.

One thing is for certain: Manayunk’s future depends on neighborhood support.

Olivia Prusky and Jake Blumgart report on what’s next for the community.

Ranks on the rebound

A software called Guardian is helping the Philadelphia Police Department expedite a hiring process that once took nearly a year. Now, it can be done in less than two months.

The department has scrapped paper applications in exchange for the system. In turn, officials are beginning to see something of a reversal from yearslong staffing deficits, according to Capt. John Walker, who oversees the police academy’s recruiting efforts.

Justin Biedinger, a former California officer who founded Guardian Alliance Technologies, said Philadelphia is one of its largest clients. He said the service quickens hiring timelines, and provides increased scrutiny of potential candidates.

In his own words: “With Guardian, these applicants can’t lie.”

Jesse Bunch has the story on the technology and its impact.

What you should know today

• A newly formed nonprofit is trying to shut down the decade-old Bar X in the Gayborhood, alleging it is a public nuisance.
• The sprawling missing persons investigation in Olney has evolved into something even more complex — a death investigation without any dead bodies.
• Pennsylvania ended mandatory life sentences for felony murder, leaving lawmakers to determine what comes next.
• A production company is making a TV docuseries on the work of SEPTA’s transit police, shadowing officers in Philadelphia as they patrol trains, buses, and streets.
• After the FIFA Fan Festival, Lemon Hill’s caretakers fear the coming $4M in park upgrades won’t include the long-term maintenance funding they’ve long asked for.
• Lower Merion banned two parents from school board meetings for “disruptive” behavior. First Amendment lawyers said it could be a violation of residents’ constitutional rights.
• Cheltenham has a new police chief. He’s a longtime crisis negotiator and community policing advocate who led one of the township’s most famous criminal investigations.

This week in history

🎤 Here’s Tommy Rowan with a look back at the work of a local “Monuments Man.”

Not all Philadelphians who answered President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s call to action were soldiers and civilians.

There were also artists.

Local legends like Walker Kirtland Hancock — who would become one of the United States’ most distinguished sculptors — headed for World War II’s battlefields to try and pry Europe’s cultural treasures from the grip of the Gestapo.

Read on for the full story.

❓Pop quiz

Eagles fans are freaking out after the team teased the return of a vintage white and kelly green helmet the Birds haven’t used in decades.

In what year did the Eagles last wear the helmet?

A) 1991

B) 1983

C) 1973

D) 1965

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🏐 Intrigued by: The tradition of competitive Amish volleyball.

☀️ Basking in: The abundance of the Italian Market with cookbook shop owner Catie Gainor on her perfect day in Philly.

🍗 Savoring: Chicken roulade at the Academy Grill in Fort Washington.

🤩 Gawking at: The inside of the iconic “Mondrian” house in Queen Village, thanks to a rare antique sale.

🌳 Considering: The pros and cons of new planters on South Broad Street.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A Delco kid is reeling with fame after catching a piranha in a lake in this borough

DIRK REPLAY

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

Cheers to Rick Brash and Jim Diamond, who were the only readers to correctly guess Saturday’s answer: Knight Foundation. 45 affordable apartments for artists on Broad Street will be partly funded by the philanthropic organization.

Photo of the day

🎶 Today’s song goes like this: “To get the good vibe, I need snow and sunshine.” Shoutout to Born at Midnite for making my week with their incredibly groovy set at Johnny Brenda’s.

👋🏽 Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. Have a good one!

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Good morning. It’s set to be a hot and sunny Saturday.

Are some cheesesteaks really that much better? Inquirer staffers try to settle a beef over what makes one authentic.

Plus, feds looked into a Philly lobbyist linked to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, a sprawling King of Prussia data center complex was rejected, and we’ve got our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Paola Pérez and Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• Federal investigators last summer subpoenaed records about William F. Dunbar Sr., a Philly lobbyist who was key to Mayor Parker’s 2023 campaign. None of the sources said they were aware of an investigation centered on Parker.
• Three Philly men allegedly stole hundreds of federal government checks between 2024 and 2026, reselling them online. Federal prosecutors said their haul totaled $68 million.
• Upper Merion Township’s Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected a data center campus proposal that had sparked a backlash from constituents.
• A Main Line psychiatrist who lost her medical license following an investigation into a sexual relationship with a patient can keep working while she appeals that decision, a judge ruled.
• Iemad Saifo, the owner of Zena’s American Mediterranean Cuisine in Collingswood, was released from ICE detention.
• Kensington High School will temporarily close its building over asbestos concerns. Students and staff will move into the old Austin Meehan Middle School.
• Aramark, one of the region’s major employers, struck a deal directly with Penn Medicine to provide more affordable healthcare to its workers.
• From a Jersey Shore vacation that cost $10,000 to Philly sports taking over the holidays, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.

The real cheesesteak beef

A reader asked: I have family visiting and they want an “authentic Philly cheesesteak.” Should I take the entire day, battle traffic and parking, and shuttle them down to South Philly? Or can I order takeout from our local pizza place in the burbs? Is there that much difference?

To help, we enlisted the palates of features columnist Stephanie Farr and programming editor Tommy Rowan.

Farr admitted she took the local pizza shop route when her dad came to town, but now laments her decision. “Missteaks were made, obviously,” Farr said.

Rowan, a cheesesteak connoisseur in his own right, described himself as picky. “If you are passionate about something you have rules,” he said.

They also touched on an important ingredient that flavors the cheesesteak experience in Philly: the people you meet.

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

One viewpoint

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks how data centers are shaping the election landscape.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, for example, has shifted his stance from an early embrace of data centers. The issue is testing his high approval ratings in Pennsylvania.

“Of course, there’s a certain opportunism to state Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s embrace of the techlash,” Pearson writes of Shapiro’s gubernatorial opponent.

Hear Pearson’s perspective on how Shapiro is trying to thread the needle on data centers, as well as other happenings in Harrisburg and City Hall.

❓Pop quiz

The Union’s new third jersey pays tribute to the entire Philadelphia professional sports landscape. What landmark is the jersey’s centerpiece?

A) Commodore Barry Bridge

B) Art Museum steps

C) Center City skyline

D) None of the above

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Philanthropic organization (two words)

KIND HUNTING AFOOT

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

Cheers to Deborah Solo who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Dito van Reigersberg. Two new scholarships named for the beloved artist — who performed as Philly’s legendary drag queen Martha Graham Cracker — will support local artists in drag, cabaret, and theater.

We were there

Before the Phillies bested the Minnesota Twins in Dyersville, Iowa, this week, the players and their families had a chance to visit the set of the 1989 baseball classic Field of Dreams.

Staff writer Lochlahn March and photographer Yong Kim traveled with the team and captured the Phillies soaking up some movie magic.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

🧠 Another week, another brand-new Pillars to solve. Have you played our new game yet?

🚲 Ariane Datil shows us the best spots to watch the Cycling Classic later this month.

💍 The Foo Fighters rocked the Linc on Thursday night for three whole hours, and that doesn’t include the terrific openers. Someone on Reddit caught the moment a proposal happened in the crowd.

👋🏽 Take care, and I’ll catch up with you again 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, Philly. It’s looking like a mostly sunny day with a high around 88.

Two Liberty Place, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and hundreds of other buildings rely on Vicinity Energy’s steam plants for heat, air-conditioning, and chilled water. Its workers are bargaining for better pay and safer facilities — and they’re prepared to walk off the job.

And if you’ve ever wondered what a black hole sounds like, a Villanova professor enlisted the help of a composer to make that a reality.

Plus, Pennsylvania won’t change its childhood vaccine guidelines, despite President Donald Trump’s latest executive order, and more news of the day.

— Paola Pérez and Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘We’re not asking for extraordinary things’

Philadelphia’s steam system was originally built by Peco at the start of the 20th century. Run by Vicinity Energy today, its employees manage some 41 miles of underground pipe infrastructure and services 400 buildings in the city.

Those workers, represented by IBEW Local 614, could launch a strike if they do not reach a deal as they negotiate a new contract with the company. They voted to authorize a strike on Saturday if the union calls for it.

Among their asks, workers want:

💰 More money. That includes raises on “substandard” wages, better short-term disability pay, and adequate compensation for time spent training new hires.

⚠️ Workplace safety. Some plants are in need of repair, leading to unsafe conditions, such as asbestos and standing water in work areas.

Ariana Perez-Castells reports on what a day on the job looks like for Philly’s steam workers, as well as allegations of threats to “discharge” employees who strike.

The sound of space

Most of space is empty and “deathly silent,” said Villanova physics professor Becka Phillipson. So Phillipson, who researches black holes, gave herself an astronomical challenge: translating these remote cosmic objects into sound.

That took some creative license. While black holes are invisible, the environment around them brightens or dims depending on the material interacting with them.

Phillipson decided that brighter light near a black hole would equal a higher pitch, and in that way turned data she was collecting into sounds.

Composer LJ White then layered those sounds with singing, percussion, and recordings of Phillipson talking about black holes. The resulting 13-minute piece debuted during a sold out concert at the Chestnut Hill Skyspace last weekend.

But you can still hear it, and learn more about the process of turning distant celestial bodies into music, by reading on.

What you should know today

• Philadelphia health officials said earlier this week that the city has seen 22 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis. Across the state, cases are even higher.
• Gov. Josh Shapiro said the state will not follow President Trump’s executive order reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccinations.
• Gunfire directed toward a couple in North Philly, killing 61-year-old Michelle Wilson, may have been retaliation for an earlier killing involving their son, according to law enforcement sources.
• An effort using cameras to police loading zones in Center City is working, according to PPA officials. So they’re doubling down.
• Immigration courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware are ordering people to leave the country in droves. The number of removal and voluntary deportation orders from the three states has topped 46,000 since January 2025.
• A “historic” El Niño developing in the Pacific Ocean could mean a gentler Atlantic hurricane season, and maybe less risk of flooding in Philadelphia.

Plus: What’s next for the Rizzo statue?

Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.

This week, we have an explainer from Michelle Myers on the future of the 10-foot bronze statue of Frank Rizzo, the former mayor and police commissioner.

The monument of Rizzo, who died 35 years ago, was removed from public display following civil rights protests in 2020. Reader JJ Cutuli wanted to know: “Where is the Frank Rizzo statue, right now?”

In short, it has undergone expensive repairs, and now it’s looking for a new home. Here’s what Myers discovered.

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

Philadelphia is the latest locale for vigilante Jack Reacher’s shadowy dealings in season four of Reacher, streaming now on Amazon Video. What location has NOT been spotted in a season four episode?

A) Pat’s King of Steaks

B) City Hall

C) Parc

D) LOVE Park

Think you know? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.

What we’re …

🗓️ Tracking: A timeline of the police investigation into Eugene Horsch and missing women in Olney.

⚾ Rooting for: This Philly-area Little League team is just one win away from stamping its ticket to Williamsport.

🪕 Attending: Philly Folk Festival, Foo Fighters, a free Snacktime show, and more concerts this week.

🥊 Prepping you for: UFC 330 in Philly this weekend. Get the match schedule, hometown competitors, and more.

☕ Sipping: Coffee from a new Yemeni- and Saudi-inspired cafe in Willow Grove.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: The beloved artist _ a.k.a. Martha Graham Cracker

REGARDING OVERBITES

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

Cheers to Bobbi Harris, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Ross Tucker. He’s jumping to the No. 2 booth at CBS alongside veteran play-by-play voice Ian Eagle. The big promotion stems from Tony Romo’s arrest.

Here’s what one reader said about the situation:

As a longtime Eagles fan, I would not miss Tony Romo at all, if he’s out of the broadcast booth that long. It’s funny, but Romo, just like Dak Prescott today, is the “greatest quarterback who never won anything.” Ten seasons (I believe) with the “elite” Dallas Cowboys and he won all of two playoff games. But he was able to leverage that into being one of the highest paid football announcers working today. (Or not working…)

Photo of the day

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake devastated Colombia earlier this week. Community nonprofit Acción Colombia will be holding multiple events Saturday and Sunday in and around Philly to collect donations.

👋 Thanks, as always, for reading. Have a wonderful weekend when you get there.

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.

Rise and shine, Philly. Wednesday’s looking sunny, but cloud cover conditions are unclear for the late-night Perseid meteor shower show.

Bananas are making a big splash on menus across the city. We looked into what’s behind the boom in popularity.

Hotter and more humid summers are putting pressure on the Philly suburbs’ aging infrastructure.

Plus, Mural Arts Philadelphia has named a new executive director for the first time since 1996, and more news of the day.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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From cafes to cocktails

The tropical fruit is hard to miss at the grocery store, but now it’s become more prevalent on menus across Philly.

The rise of banana beverages is part of a national trend that was a long time coming, following the likes of matcha- and ube-flavored treats and drinks.

“But what’s particularly unusual about it is that it straddles both the cafe and cocktail realms of beverage, when normally, these spheres do not intersect,” food writer Kiki Aranita reports.

Cocktail bars, for instance, are getting creative to use the banana in its entirety (including its peel), and bartenders are reaching more for banana liquor.

Aranita has the story, including where to try these drinks around the city.

‘We get a 100-year storm every year’

Philly-area summers have intensified, making flash floods, extreme precipitation, and life-threatening storms more commonplace.

In the suburbs, a unique challenge emerges as the region prepares for a future marked by climate change. Multiple facets of these communities play a role, including:

The topography. Flooding is the “biggest and most common hazard,” according to Chris Linn, manager of the Office of Resilience and Environment at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.

The infrastructure. Aging stormwater systems are in need of costly repairs across many municipalities. These systems are crucial to move water off impenetrable surfaces like parking lots and paved roads.

The regulations. Municipalities differ in their desire and ability to use taxpayer dollars to tackle climate issues through various projects.

Denali Sagner reports on the difficulties Philadelphia suburbs face in dealing with extreme weather today and in the future.

What you should know today

• The ramp from Bridge Street to I-95 North in Northeast Philadelphia will close for good next week. In other transportation news, the University Avenue Bridge will soon receive repairs to its deteriorating steel beams.
• A teen who authorities believe stole a vehicle used in June by two other teens before they killed a Penn State student in South Philadelphia surrendered to police Tuesday night.
• Taxpayers paid $2.3 million last month to the victims of a former Philadelphia police officer who is behind bars for sexual assault.
• A South Philadelphia babysitter, originally from Argentina, was released from ICE detention Monday after being arrested at Philadelphia International Airport last month.
• Emily Mello will assume the role of executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia on Sept. 1.
• A Montco meat-processing plant that was set to shut down this week will stay open, but will downsize staff from about 1,700 to 400.
• The landmark Pub in Pennsauken is going on the market, but it plans to stay open while it searches for new ownership.
• 94.1 WIP won’t have a dedicated sideline reporter during Eagles games for the first time in more than 15 years.

Quote of the day

Mark Ringgold was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Cobbs Creek last year, near one of the city’s most dangerous roads. His mother, Angela McDonald, is pushing for the city to install speed bumps to slow down drivers.

🧠 Trivia time

President Donald Trump reportedly flew secretly on an alternate military aircraft last month because of an Iranian assassination threat.

Which former president also took part in a similar plane ruse?

A) George W. Bush

B) Bill Clinton

C) Jimmy Carter

D) None of the above

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🍗 Intrigued by: An unnamed Point Breeze corner store is cooking up one of the neighborhood’s best chicken sandwiches.

📍 Identifying: All the Philly locations featured in the opening episodes of the new season of Reacher.

🥬 Visiting: The best weekly farmers markets down the Shore.

🏀 Hearing: The buzz on record-breaking ticket prices, player reactions, and more on the Sixers-Knicks season opener.

🎤 Considering: Inquirer writer Jason Nark’s changing perspective on country music and its alternatives.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Star of John Wick and The Matrix

SEVEN EUREKA

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

Cheers to Mary Jane Connolly, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Snapper soup. Kelly’s Seafood is closing after 68 years in North Philadelphia. You have three weeks to get your last bowl of snapper soup.

Photo of the day

👋🏽 Thanks for starting your morning here. Have a good one.

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. We’re promised some sunshine and a hot high near 94.

It’s that time of year where one definitive track takes the throne as “Song of the Summer,” but we’re not going to play that game. Instead, we’re curating the season’s sounds in one playlist.

And if LeBron James ends up living in New York while playing for the Sixers, he wouldn’t be the first to make that commute.

Scroll along for these Sunday stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Put your headphones on

What’s a summer without a soundtrack?

Pop critic Dan DeLuca has us covered with a curated mix of 30 songs, annotations included. They’re not individually ranked, though, and instead highlight a wide range of the season’s sounds.

Here’s a sampling:

💥 “CRANK” by Slayyyter, serving in-your-face electro-pop.

🎸 “Can’t Be Wrong” from Low Cut Connie, “perhaps the catchiest earworm yet,” as DeLuca put it.

🎤 “Nightmares to Dreams” by Meek Mill, a sequel spin on the unofficial Philadelphia anthem.

Find our full playlist here.

P.S. What’s your song of the summer? Let us know if we missed your favorite(s).

If I could add some of my own, I’d throw in “Too Easy” by Tinashe, “Sun Has Set” by beabadoobee, and “Do It” by underscores (she’s opening for Charli XCX in Philly this fall!).

The New York-Philly trailblazer

NBA insiders have said that LeBron James may live in New York City while playing for the 76ers.

If it turns out to be true, he’d be following in the footsteps of another player who had to make the trek to and from Philly in a Sixers jersey.

In the 1960s, Wilt Chamberlain spent most nights in New York, regularly making the drive in luxury cars up and down the turnpike. Friends recall he would burn rubber with his “heavy foot.” (LeBron would probably use a helicopter, though, so he has Chamberlain beat there.)

A New York “magnet,” Chamberlain owned a popular club in Harlem and lived in Manhattan. His choice of residence became a point of contention every time he missed a practice, though.

In 1965, with just a few weeks left in the regular season, then-Sixers owner Ike Richman had Chamberlain move in with him and his family in Elkins Park.

Sports features writer Matt Breen has the full story.

What you should know today

• New Jersey’s attorney general launched an investigation into the operation of Delaney Hall in Newark. Several detainees have died at the privately run ICE facility.
• Authorities charged four men with sex-trafficking two women in Camden, allegedly coercing them with violence, threats, and drugs.
• Haverford College and a Jewish group suing the school over its handling of antisemitism allegations have reached a settlement, according to federal court documents.
• A Philadelphia firefighter headed to court after suing the city for discrimination may get help from a new state law protecting hairstyles.
• The U.S. Senate passed a bill Saturday to fund the government through Dec. 11. The measure also temporarily blocks the White House from giving political appointees more control over federal grants.
• Residents got rowdy at a Plymouth Township zoning meeting this week in opposition to plans for a big data center on the site of a closed steel mill.
• A federal judge approved settlements with DuPont and 3M that will pay New Jersey up to $2.5 billion over the next quarter century to remediate damages from decades of manufacturing and use of PFAS chemicals in the state.
• The Commodore Barry Bridge is getting a paint job and restoration, thanks to a $220 million project, leading to some traffic jams.
• Lane Johnson, the Eagles’ five-time All-Pro right tackle, said he’s considering retiring following the 2026 season.

This week in history

🎤 Here’s Tommy Rowan with a look back at the racially tense transit strike that required an Army intervention.

On Aug. 1, white transit workers with the Philadelphia Transit Co. had gone on strike over the hiring of Black trolley operators.

Black workers were now being given operator jobs, graduating to higher pay and better conditions than in their previous jobs in mechanics and labor.

On Aug. 5, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dispatched about 5,000 U.S. Army troops to Philadelphia to intervene in the ugly transit strike.

It marked one of the first major federal interventions amid the fight for civil rights.

Read on for the full story.

❓Pop quiz

Luxury homes are getting more expensive in the Philly area, but they’re still selling fast.

Homes that sold for at least _ meet the “luxury” threshold.

A) $975,000

B) $3 million

C) $1.15 million

D) $2.5 million

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🧠 Trying to crack: This week’s round of Pillars, The Inquirer’s new word game.

🍝 Loving: The sheer variety of foods Phillies fans bring to Citizens Bank Park, from lucky tuna salad to fanny pack meatballs.

✏️ Hearing: Most Philly school principals believe the district is moving in the right direction, but they also express frustration on various fronts, according to a new survey.

😋 Savoring: The spanakopita at Stina.

🪑 Disarmed by: A pair of sassy chairs at Museum of Art in Wood.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A long troubled building on Independence Mall

TUB HEROES

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

Cheers to Judy Pidgeon, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Lauren Cohan of The Walking Dead fame. She is the third most-searched Cherry Hill-born celebrity on Wikipedia.

Photo of the day

Pediatricians at CHOP and St. Christopher’s prescribe books to young children as part of a program to boost literacy. Organizers plan to expand it statewide.

🎶 Today’s song sounds like this: “I need to laugh, and when the sun is out / I’ve got something I can laugh about.” The Beatles’ Revolver turned 60 last week.

👋🏽 Thanks for reading, and have a great day.

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.

Saturday’s here. Afternoon showers are likely, and a heat advisory remains in effect until the evening.

A reader wants to know how to go about charging an electric car without causing too much trouble on their block.

Plus, we have updates on those mysteriously cheap Freedom Fuel stations, water systems being targeted in a cyberattack, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• There’s been a surge of arrests by ICE at Philly’s airport in the last few weeks, immigration advocates say, including a grandmother and a babysitter.
• Water systems serving several Jersey Shore towns were hacked as part of attacks across the country, officials confirmed. Water remained safe to consume.
• Philadelphia’s chief paramedic said in a whistleblower lawsuit that he was stripped of his leadership position for sounding the alarm about allegations of favoritism in the city’s fire department.
• Some families say that the violent problems at Cheltenham schools go beyond the locker room and that there’s been a “lack of urgency” in response.
• Chris Rabb’s former campaign treasurer was charged with wire fraud after she allegedly defrauded more than 20 clients out of about $1 million, according to federal prosecutors.
• Funding was cut to life-saving medical research programs in Philly. Rep. Brendan Boyle demands to know why.
• A website is asking President Donald Trump to free the founder of Par Funding. He’s serving more than 15 years for his role in an investment scheme.
• Four new Freedom Fuel stations opened in Philly this week, while an existing location faces closure following a failed inspection.
• Among the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly: We debated ketchup on cheesesteaks, LOVE Park nears 1,000 weddings, and Gov. Josh Shapiro makes an unexpected music video cameo.

Cord courtesy

Today’s question is: I’m thinking of getting an electric car even though I don’t have a driveway. I’ve seen some of my neighbors run the cords out of their rowhouses across the sidewalk to charge their cars. I’m intrigued! What’s the etiquette?

Reporters Mike Newall and Zoe Greenberg jumped on this question with a handful of things for our “Intrigued-by-Electric” reader to consider. For starters, beware creating a tripping hazard, as the city could enforce it as a violation. As Newall pointed out, living in a city means being considerate of your neighbors.

Greenberg, who is a new mom, spoke to navigating sidewalks as if they were “an obstacle course” while pushing a stroller. “I say you can run the cords from the rowhouse, but you have to REALLY secure it to the sidewalk,” Greenberg said.

They also did some research on a program that would bring charging ports to neighborhoods.

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

One viewpoint

In October 2023, a SEPTA bus driver named Bernard Gribbin was shot and killed in Germantown. He was the first city transit operator to die by gunfire while on the job.

Gribbin’s killer was convicted of third-degree murder last week. In the latest edition of Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson argues that the DA’s office missed an opportunity to convey a stronger stance in defense of transportation workers.

“The death of Gribbin seemed like a case in which prosecutors could send a message that violence against SEPTA workers will be met with serious consequences,” Pearson writes. “Instead, District Attorney Larry Krasner opted to accept a plea bargain.”

Read on for Pearson’s perspective on the case and other happenings at City Hall and in Harrisburg this week.

🧠 Trivia time

When the Philadelphia Zoo opened, it was the first in the nation. (That was just the first of many firsts in the zoo’s history.)

When did it debut?

A) 1799

B) 1865

C) 1810

D) 1874

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Cherry Hill-born celebrity of The Walking Dead fame

ANNUAL CHORE

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

Cheers to Peggy Bogart, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: BlackStar Film Festival. Ahead of the 15th annual celebration of films by Black, brown, and Indigenous filmmakers, we spoke to the local filmmakers whose projects will be featured at this year’s festival.

We were there

This is Sam Okyere, a 12-year-old with sickle cell disease. When it came time to choose his Make-A-Wish dream, he used it to help the homeless.

Reporter Dana Munro and staff photographer Tyger Williams take us to his donation drive and block party at a homeless shelter in Philadelphia.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

🐈 Philadelphia Mail Cats is still meeting and greeting friendly felines on his delivery route. This orange buddy has captivating eyes.

🌳 People are raving over Cira Green. It was recently named one of Pennsylvania’s best places to catch a sunset.

📍 “My idea of a date is touring David Lynch’s Eraserhood.” Real talk.

👋🏽 A cafecito is calling my name. Thanks for waking up with The Inquirer, and I’ll catch up with you again 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.

Let’s start with the good news: It’s Friday.

Unless stifling humidity is your thing, the unpleasant news is that Philly feels more like South Beach, Miami, right now. (As a former Florida girl, I’m ambivalent.) Random showers are possible, and a heat advisory is in effect through Saturday night. The silver lining? Our drought conditions are improving.

While it may be the dog days of summer, some Philly chains are already ringing in the Halloween season. The so-called seasonal creep is real, and it’s only picking up speed.

But first, our main story looks into how SEPTA’s bus lane crackdown is going.

Scroll along for these stories and more news to start your weekend.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Under the watchful eye of AI

If the results of AI-powered camera enforcement on SEPTA buses and trolleys are any indicator, people are less likely to illegally stop in bus lanes these days.

👁️ More than 210,000 illegally parked vehicles were caught blocking bus lanes since the cameras were first deployed in May 2025. Violations have seen a downtown trend since enforcement began.

💸 Parking perps have been charged $14.5 million in fines as of June 30. The hefty fines seem to be motivating drivers to avoid adding to congestion.

🚍 Travel time has dropped, too. Buses along the enforcement routes are spending less time stuck in traffic.

Transportation reporter Tom Fitzgerald shows us the data, and explains how tickets are issued and assessed by human officers.

‘The guardrails are gone’

🎤 Allow me to pass the mic to my colleague Tony Wood for a look into a long-accelerating movement.

A certain seasonal disorientation is understandable these days, and we’re not talking about whatever is going on with the planet’s climate.

The Philly-born La Colombe coffee chain began offering its pumpkin spice drinks this week, and while that may seem early for evoking the spirit of Halloween, even among its rivals — Starbucks doesn’t turn to pumpkin until Aug. 25 — La Colombe is miles behind the candy industry, which has been at it for months.

In early May, as part of its “Halfway to Halloween” promotion, Mars Inc. was offering a “Creepy Crunch” variant of Skittles, Twix “skulls,” and pumpkin-shaped Snickers.

Over the weekend, as many as 3,000 people showed up for the seasonal grand opening of the Spirit Halloween store in Egg Harbor Township — 37 days before Labor Day, and in an era when summery weather appears to be lingering longer. (Philly’s average temperatures were above normal the last five Septembers.) — Tony Wood

Learn what could be driving seasonal creep, and why one expert says “holiday fatigue” could be the result.

What you should know today

• Cheltenham Superintendent Brian Scriven stepped down after the district was accused of failing to adequately investigate assaults in a locker room.
• Federal prosecutors will take over the criminal case against the Olney man whose house is at the center of a sprawling investigation into the disappearance of two women.
• The Philadelphia Housing Authority is planning an 85-unit mix of affordable rental and homeownership units in Strawberry Mansion.
• The parent organization of a Philadelphia-based painters union has taken control of the local entity after alleging “widespread financial malpractice” and a “lack of democratic controls.”
• The Pennsylvania Superior Court has reinstated the murder convictions of three men who were granted new trials after being imprisoned for nearly 25 years for a crime they say they did not commit.
• A man who previously got in trouble for leaving lewd and threatening voicemails for U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean pleaded guilty this week to stalking a Philadelphia TV news personality.
• A Delco police chief had her duties of office stripped away by officials in what her lawyer described in a federal civil rights lawsuit as a racist, sexist plot to force her out of her position.
• Philadelphia’s fiscal watchdog said this week that a recent city review identifying thousands of property owners cashing in on tax relief programs they are ineligible for may have only scratched the surface of the problem.
• The guidelines for how students are admitted to Philadelphia’s magnet schools are changing. The school district is also about to face significant new scrutiny, with City Council President Kenyatta Johnson asking for a sweeping audit of the system’s management and operations.

Plus: Why are the Citizens Bank Park seats blue?

Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.

This week, we’re resurfacing an explainer from 2024 about the color choice of the Phillies ballpark seats.

Why are they blue — sapphire blue, to be exact — and not red to match the team? The reason can be traced back to the 1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Here’s the full explanation.

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

Employees at this Philly museum adopted their first union contract this month:

A) Fabric Workshop and Museum

B) Woodmere Art Museum

C) Museum of Illusions

D) Magic Gardens

Think you know? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.

What (and whom) we’re…

❤️ Remembering: Chris DiJulia, a legend and dedicated part of the city’s sports scene.

🧁 Discovering: Philadelphia is the birthplace of all-American cupcakes.

🍃 Inspired by: A lawyer and a teacher sprucing up Camden, one free lawn cut at a time.

🎤 Catching: A free Iron Chic show and Hilary Duff’s concert, among the best live music happenings this week.

🍸 Intrigued by: A new vinyl listening room and bar concept coming to Kennett Square and Fishtown.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A Philly film festival happening now through Sunday

SLABTRACK

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

Cheers to Chris Campolucci, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Donkey’s Place Steaks. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said the Camden spot has better cheesesteaks than the “millions” she has tried in Philadelphia.

Here are some of your thoughts:

“Also recommended by the late Anthony Bourdain.”

“No offense to the governor, but did you see that hers was on a poppy seed kaiser roll? Heresy!”

“As a proud Philadelphian I dispute this.”

I asked The Inquirer’s cheesesteak connoisseur Tommy Rowan for his two cents. Here’s what he had to say: “It’s a good steak sandwich. It’s not a great cheesesteak.” Mic drop.

Photo of the day

👋🏽 Thanks for starting your weekend with us. Have a great one, and take care.

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. There’s a chance of afternoon showers.

Our main story unpacks how routine maintenance of Pennsylvania’s voter rolls has fueled misinformation ahead of the high-stakes midterm elections.

Parents tell The Inquirer their pleas went ignored by the Cheltenham School District before it hired the coach who was charged in a hazing scandal.

Plus, the family of a man who died in ICE custody in New Jersey has called for an investigation, and more news of the day.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Inside the inspection

On Monday, voter records in Pennsylvania underwent a standard inspection to account for people who have moved, died, or stopped voting.

This was a routine move. But according to right-wing activists, Republican U.S. senators, and Elon Musk, it was proof of a mass expulsion of potentially fraudulent voters.

🗳️ Here’s what actually went down. Counties across the Keystone State have been updating voter lists. They are required to do so no later than 90 days before a federal election, as mandated by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

🗳️ Both parties saw changes. 55,241 Democrats were moved to inactive status, while 23,832 Republicans also became inactive.

🗳️ However, being inactive is not the same as being ineligible. Contrary to what has been claimed by MAGA influencer Scott Presler and others, those voters can still vote in November.

Politics reporter Michelle Baruchman has the details.

Families warned officials

Cheltenham families were concerned about allegations that former head coach Terence Tolbert allowed bullying to fester in his prior coaching position. His qualifications were called into question, and his failures to intervene in persistent bullying were scrutinized.

Despite this, Tolbert was formally hired by Cheltenham High School in June 2025.

Last week, Tolbert was charged with conspiracy and endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the alleged assaults of a 15-year-old player in the football team’s locker room by teammates. Six players and other coaches were also charged.

In one parent’s own words: “We protested and pleaded,” said Naim Ferguson. “We didn’t think the people they were putting in place were adequate to handle the kids.”

Read more in Jess Rohan’s story, which includes similar allegations that emerged during Tolbert’s time at Abington Senior High.

What you should know today

• The family of an immigrant from El Salvador who died in ICE custody at Delaney Hall in New Jersey demanded state and federal officials bring justice by investigating his death and closing the facility.
• District Attorney Larry Krasner vowed to appeal a judge’s decision to overturn the conviction of the man who killed Philadelphia Police Officer Moses Walker Jr. in 2012.
• A bridge in Camden County has closed for about three months as part of a multimillion-dollar repair project.
• Federal and state officials met in Philadelphia on Tuesday to discuss efforts to address Medicaid billing fraud in the home-care industry.
• The state of New Jersey has sued Amazon again, this time accusing the tech giant of creating worse work conditions for lower pay via its “anticompetitive” delivery driver network.
• An investigative report criticized the Quakertown police chief’s “calamitous” decision to charge into a crowd of high school students protesting ICE in February.
• Upper Merion Township is hoping to build a sports and entertainment complex in King of Prussia that could accommodate more than 7,000 people — and a minor league baseball team.
• One of Philly’s top Vietnamese restaurants will close its South Philly location later this year. Chef-owner Thanh Nguyen is searching for a new home.

Quote of the day

Retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy is an ultrarare genetic disease with no cure.

Lindsay Ward, pictured right, grows more nervous with each passing year, knowing it could emerge at any time.

Thanks to a $10 million gift to the University of Pennsylvania, researchers there will work on developing a potential treatment.

🧠 Trivia time

Investors accused this Philadelphia-based business of securities fraud in a class-action lawsuit.

A) honeygrow

B) Insomnia Cookies

C) Comcast

D) Five Below

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🎙️ Following: WHYY is one step closer to taking ownership of Penn State’s public radio and television station.

🎸 Anticipating: Phish will play three shows in Atlantic City this fall.

⚾ Hearing: Mixed reviews on the Phils’ underwhelming trade deadline moves.

💍 Sleuthing: Did celebrity Bucks couple Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid secretly tie the knot?

🌶️ Avoiding: Jalapeños at Chipotle as officials investigate a salmonella outbreak.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Longtime Lebanese restaurant in Bala Cynwyd

ALTOIDS BARR

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

Cheers to Kim Flammini, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Wrexham A.F.C. Subaru Park became the temporary home for the soccer team over the weekend. “It’s just Philly but across the world,” a fan said.

Photo of the day

👋🏽 Thanks for starting your morning with us. Have a great Wednesday.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this newsletter erroneously indicated that investors in a Philadelphia-area business were accused of securities fraud. The business was accused, not the investors.

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.