Author: Paola Pérez

Happy Friday, Philly. It’s a hot one with a high near 90, and a chance of evening showers.

Many small businesses say they have become dependent on “skill games” to stay afloat. A recent state Supreme Court ruling may threaten that.

Mural Arts Philadelphia and other groups took hits in the new city budget and will have to make cuts in programs as a result.

Plus, the city responds to Trump’s lawsuit over ICE legislation, and more news of the day.

— Paola Pérez and Brian Nelson (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Uncertain future with uncertain revenue

Skill games, or slot-machine look-alikes, are essential.

That’s according to corner stores, bars, laundromats, and smoke shops across Philadelphia, who say they keep their slim-margin businesses alive.

🎰 Skill games lived in a legal gray area for more than a decade because they aren’t taxed or regulated like typical slot machines.

🎰 That could change now that Pennsylvania’s highest court recently ruled that they are one and the same. Now the countdown starts for those terms to officially take effect in four months.

🎰 Harrisburg could intervene as the state budget deadline approaches, but state lawmakers have failed for years to agree on how to tax and regulate the machines.

Many area business owners said they’re willing to stomach a tax, but chafe at what they consider to be cumbersome regulations.

In their own words: “This business is about getting a little bit of money from every product, and the machines are a tiny source of income that adds up to that,” one corner store owner told The Inquirer.

Inquirer reporters Dana Munro, Gillian McGoldrick, Michelle Myers have the story.

Budget cuts impact city art programs

In past years, the city’s budget process has followed a certain pattern for Mural Arts Philadelphia and other groups. This year was different.

Philadelphia’s nationally acclaimed program that puts colorful murals in neighborhoods and provides jobs was hoping for a boost in city funding. But the arts nonprofit learned that it will get substantially less.

The budget, ultimately agreed to by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration and City Council, will cut funding to Mural Arts — from $5.1 million in fiscal year 2026 to $3.7 million in 2027. Mural Arts is among many arts organizations retracting its proposed plans due to the proposed cuts.

Arts and culture reporter Peter Dobrin breaks it down here.

What you should know today

• Peco union workers plan to strike on the Fourth of July if they don’t have a contract by then. It would be the first worker strike in the company’s history.
• Pennsylvania health officials have now detected measles cases in York and Northumberland Counties as cases in Lancaster County, the center of an ongoing outbreak, continued to rise.
• The Trump administration is suing Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, the city, and other officials over an ordinance that bars law enforcement officers from concealing their identities as part of the ICE Out legislative package.
• The SEPTA board approved new labor contracts with the Fraternal Order of Transit Police Lodge 109 and three unions representing workers in the Regional Rail Division.
• Gov. Josh Shapiro said no Pa. businesses would participate in Trump’s Great American State Fair on the National Mall.
• A woman has been charged with murder and other offenses after an arson attempt that killed one man and damaged five homes in Philadelphia’s Franklinville section.
• Ember & Ash restaurant in South Philly is closed indefinitely after a late-night fire Wednesday sent flames to the roof through its ventilation system.
• Collingswood is considering lifting its dry town status to boost local restaurants. Residents may have the final say.
• A 188-apartment building is the latest new development slated for North Broad Street.

Plus: Why don’t Philly’s police district numbers make sense?

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 about how Philly’s 21 police districts are enigmatically numbered. Why, for example, is South Philly, split into Districts 1, 3, and 17?

The department also seems to randomly omit numbers and mysteriously lists PHL as the 77th District. Here’s the full story.

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

A viral dance that originated in Camden has earned over a million fans across the world. What’s it called?

A) The Camden Shuffle

B) The Camden Slide

C) The Camden Bop

D) The Camden Boogie

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

What (and whom) we’re …

🇫🇷 Surveying: French fans on whether Philly is really the “Paris of America.”

🧀 Bragging about: Philly cheesesteaks outranking New York pizza for World Cup tourists.

⚽ Loving: Supporters soaking up the “good vibes” during Thursday’s slate of World Cup games, including Ivory Coast’s win at Philadelphia Stadium. Curaçao may have lost, but it was still a party for them.

🎸 Revealing: Our full list of the 76 most iconic Philly songs.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: 250th 🇺🇸 🎆 🎉

HUFF JURY TOOL

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

Cheers to Jan Schmidt, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Jenkintown. SEPTA is planning an 86-unit apartment complex near the station.

Photo of the day

One more thing: 18-year-old Khandakar Mahin, an Upper Darby graduate, was honored at the White House earlier this month for a proposal he created for another use for AI: to combat human trafficking.

👋🏽 Thanks to Inquirer intern Brian Nelson for his help co-writing today’s newsletter, and thanks to you for kicking off your weekend with us. Have a great one 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.

Welcome to Wednesday.

It should be sunny with a high near 84. Evidently, despite the deluge earlier this week, the Philly region’s drought conditions persist.

A new poll shows how people in Philly feel about the city under the leadership of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.

Following an Inquirer investigation into Philadelphia’s police union’s questionable funeral expenses, the FOP is pinning payout failures on the city.

Plus, why 6abc says it’s being targeted by the federal government, and more news of the day.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Survey says…

An Inquirer poll in collaboration with Suffolk University asked 500 Philadelphians across the city about issues Mayor Parker promised to address in her tenure.

The questions included concerns about crime, quality of life, city services, and education.

Among the responses, they found:

👍 An overwhelming majority of Philadelphians feel safe, and more than 40% believe the city is cleaner.

👎 The quality of public schools remain a major concern, as well as the persistent opioid crisis in Kensington. More than half of the respondents indicated that the mayor’s strategy in the neighborhood is not working.

🗳️ There are mixed results on Parker’s political fortunes as she heads into an expected reelection campaign next year.

City Hall reporter Anna Orso breaks down the survey findings, including Parker’s biggest vulnerability.

One more takeaway from the poll: Gov. Josh Shapiro is by far the most popular political figure among Philadelphia residents.

Shifting blame

Earlier this month, an Inquirer investigation uncovered how the Fraternal Order of Police has for years billed the city following an officer’s death for expenses that are unrelated to funeral home and cemetery costs.

To the tune of tens of thousands of dollars, taxpayers were footing the bills for everything from bar and restaurant tabs to socks and underwear.

Now, the FOP is pushing back on its role in the matter.

Notable quote: “The problem has always been and continues to be the city of Philadelphia’s ineptitude to pay bills in a timely fashion,” the FOP wrote. It continued on to say that survivors’ families are left to make big financial decisions as they are grieving.

The discovery prompted questions about the union’s charitable organization, which has spent money on funerals even in years when no officers died in the line of duty. The FOP criticized The Inquirer’s request to clarify these expenses through public records.

Investigative reporter Barbara Laker has the latest.

What you should know today

• Two Philadelphia pastors were charged with sexual exploitation and corruption of minors. Both men were released from jail after posting bail.
• The FCC is threatening to pull some ABC licenses and take stations off the air. Philly’s affiliate 6abc is asking viewers for help.
• President Donald Trump talked tariffs — and transgender athletes, weight-loss drugs, and the UFC fight on the White House lawn — during a Lehigh Valley stop. He appeared to snub GOP gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity.
• More than a third of short-term rental agencies like Airbnb and VRBO in Philadelphia have licensing issues, according to a new report from the City Controller’s office released Tuesday.
• Bayside State Prison in Cumberland County, N.J., is the subject of a new report detailing overcrowding, intolerable heat, and other deficiencies.
• The Spring-Ford school district is moving to fire a Spanish teacher despite protests from parents and students who say she’s being unfairly terminated.
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia announced who will take over for Madeline Bell, who started her career there as a nurse almost 40 years ago.
• Philly has the cheapest office space of any Northeast city, according to a new report.

Quote of the day

The ICE arrest of the owners of South Jersey Kebab sparked wide condemnation last year. Their son Muhammed Emanet said he is trying to be upbeat as he faces the prospect of being separated from his wife and two sons, all U.S. citizens.

🧠 Trivia time

A Delco man built this in his dad’s basement and could win $10,000 for it:

A) a shrine to the Phillie Phanatic

B) a replica of the Liberty Bell made out of pretzels

C) a toothpick diorama of Independence Hall

D) a custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🏀 Promoting: Community wellness at the pro-am Invitational Clash event.

🇺🇸 Anticipating: Meek Mill joins the star-studded bill July 4 concert lineup.

📺 Watching: A Jalen-Hurts lookalike and Drexel alum who just entered the Love Island villa.

🎤 Belting out to: Billie Holiday, Pink, and more in day 2 of our countdown of the 76 most iconic Philly songs.

📜 Considering: A revisiting of America’s founding documents and what they mean.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Spring Garden brewery

TWITTER BINGO PROBLEM

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

Cheers to Kim Hyde, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Oh Mary! Tickets go on sale this week for the first national tour of the Tony-award winning campy comedy.

Photo of the day

👋🏽 That’s it for now. 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.

Welcome to a new week, Philly. Strong storms and downpours could impact the France vs. Iraq World Cup match.

New research uncovers a gnawing problem for pest control in the Philadelphia area.

And a 60-year-old Northeast Philly shopping center is getting a big facelift.

Plus, Sheraton hotel workers went on strike in Philly after contract negotiations fell apart, and more news of the day.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Oh rats

To the frustration of residents and pest control professionals, urban rodents in big cities like Philadelphia and New York are routinely surviving rodenticide treatments.

A recent Rutgers study may explain why. It found mice in Philly, Trenton, and some area suburbs carry a genetic mutation that helps them survive common poisons.

🪤 What can be done? The research suggests pests are actively evolving to resist the chemical baits, so pest control companies may need to develop different strategies.

🐀 What about rats? While they haven’t been found to harbor chemical-resistant mutations, they do seem to be cognitively sophisticated enough to evade and outsmart traps entirely, according to the study’s author.

Environmental reporter Frank Kummer explains the findings.

Embracing modernity

As some local malls decline, Roosevelt Mall is seeing a big boost by way of a $70 million-plus makeover that promises to usher it to the modern age.

The transformation is spearheaded by Brixmor Property Group, which is now led by CEO Brian Finnegan of Roxborough.

Drawing tenants, upgrading facades, and implementing a better layout are all a part of the plan. They also briefly considered changing the landmark’s name, but ultimately decided not to rebrand it.

Notable quote: “It’s an iconic name,” said David Vender, Brixmor’s executive vice president for the north region. “People know it as a landmark.”

The community’s perception of the mall plays a role in its redevelopment, as Brixmor considers how local residents who shop, eat, and drive by their centers are affected by the changes.

Go inside the major makeover with consumer reporter Erin McCarthy.

What you should know today

• Unionized hotel workers at Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown walked off the job Sunday after the union and management failed to come to an agreement, and as FIFA World Cup soccer matches flood the city with hotel guests.
• Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and other top leaders of the city government and the Philadelphia School District will travel to Harrisburg on Monday for a high-stakes trip aimed at securing millions of dollars in new funding for the financially strapped public schools.
• One of Mayor Parker’s top officials of the Department of Licenses & Inspections “is no longer with the City.” Her office won’t say why.
• Mayor Parker declared a public safety emergency at Bartram Village after squatters moved in and caused extensive damage.
• The Philadelphia School Board voted to nonrenew a charter school run by a veteran former district administrator, pointing to poor test scores and operational problems.
• A shooting in the wee hours of Sunday left two men dead and two others injured in the Fairhill section of Philadelphia, police said.
• Shore-goers are receiving mixed signals with New Jersey’s new e-bike law. Pennsylvanians are exempt, and no one seems to know how to comply.
• The city has launched an anti-graffiti cleanup campaign to make its best first impression on visitors, but the program doesn’t cover areas where residents most request attention.
• City Tavern’s garden will reopen this week as a summer pop-up with food, drinks, and events behind the shuttered restaurant.

Quote of the day

For the third year in a row, Philadelphia’s ports ranked as the fastest in North America, according to the latest annual Container Port Performance Index. Here’s why Philly longshoremen say the city’s ports outpace the rest.

🧠 Trivia time

Hillary Bor closed Philly’s Pumpkin BYOB in 2024 and moved down the Shore.

What is she selling there now?

A) Cheesesteaks

B) Water ice

C) Soft pretzels

D) Hot dogs

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re…

🇫🇷 Talking to: Four Frenchmen who skipped work to come see the World Cup in Philly.

🕺 Dancing to: The Camden Bop, the region’s latest viral dance.

🧼 Examining: The staying power of a 150-year-old cleaning supply store in a bankrupt city.

🌊 Planning: A perfect summer weekend on Seven Mile Island.

🏀 Learning: Before Leon Rose built the Knicks, he was a gym rat at Cherry Hill East.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: 🎸 “I’ll keep you my dirty little secret”

ARTS CERAMIC JANELLE

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

Cheers to Dave Davies, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Auston Trusty. Trusty and Matt Freese of Delco helped the helped the U.S. win two games in a World Cup group stage for the first time since 1930.

One more USMNT thing: Can they really win the whole thing? Inquirer soccer reporter Jonathan Tannenwald levels expectations, at least for us outsiders.

Photo of the day

Congrats to Bryce Harper, who just hit his first-career cycle Saturday — against the Mets, no less. It was also a big night for Kyle Schwarber, who hit two homers in the same inning.

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. 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 David McMenamin, who describes a memory marked by music:

It was probably Fall 1969. A group of high school seniors in a car coming up Broad Street from the south. The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” long version came on the radio. We rolled down the windows, started singing along and circled City Hall three times before heading west on Market Street. That was a signature moment of my Philadelphia life.

👋🏽 Go Phils, 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.

Welcome to Sunday. The high will be near 91, and evening storms may dampen Philly’s first World Cup match.

In today’s main read, we explore how one of Philadelphia’s most recognizable organized-crime figures went from wiseguy to influencer.

And with the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill now in full swing, residents in the area say it has caused disruptions to daily life.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Teaching an old don new tricks

Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino is now 64, and he’s five years removed from the criminal justice system.

The onetime alleged head of Philadelphia’s underworld is also enjoying a second act that few could have predicted: podcaster, social-media personality, and cheesesteak entrepreneur.

To start, family friend Joe “Lil Snuff” Perri gave him a mic and camera for a new second act — complete with cheesesteaks.

As Merlino opens his cheesesteak shop on the Wildwood boardwalk, The Inquirer’s Mike Klein dives into the world of “MobTube” and how Merlino’s new career fits into the true-crime subculture.

Lemon Hill neighbors demand action over Fan Fest

Through July 19, Lemon Hill will be bumping with activity as thousands of people gather to party and watch World Cup games for free.

But residents in the area, who were given a little more than three weeks to prepare, say this once-in-a-lifetime experience is all happening at their expense.

In their own words: “Everybody’s feeling pretty resentful, maybe cautiously optimistic, but also just not feeling respected as residents,” said one Fairmount resident and local neighborhood group organizer.

Traffic issues: There is confusion surrounding road closures and parking limitations, pushing drivers onto narrow side streets and making it harder for residents to find parking spots near home.

The city’s response: Officials say they are adding signage, adjusting traffic controls, and working with rideshare companies to address access issues. “More work remains to be done,” said Councilmember Jeffery Young.

Henry Savage reports on both the short-term issues and the long-term concerns about the longevity of Lemon Hill Park.

Plus: Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr braved the sweltering heat and spent five hours at Fan Fest’s opening day. Follow the minute-by-minute account of her experience.

What you should know today

• Local doctors say they’re worried that more measles cases are spreading under the radar as parts of Lancaster County remain unvaccinated.
• Independence Blue Cross launched a policy designed to move care into lower-cost surgery centers and away from hospitals and clinics that can generate payments twice as high for the same treatment.
• A former Philadelphia police officer who pepper-sprayed several people on I-676 during the 2020 protests over George Floyd’s murder has pleaded no contest to assault and related crimes.
• Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity lawfully refused to pay more than $1 million in security upgrade bills for Gov. Josh Shapiro’s private home, the attorney general’s office said Friday.
• The city of Philadelphia installed educational play structures for kids at 11 city landmarks, including LOVE Park, the Philadelphia Zoo, and Reading Terminal Market.
• Pennsylvania colleges are among the least successful in training future educators to teach kids to read, a new study has found.
• A Chester County cop made an illegal recording of the school board he served on. He lost both jobs.
• Some North Philly baseball coaches feel overlooked by the MLB’s decision to not invest in fields or programs they say are in desperate need.
• New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker toured Camden’s police department Friday and praised its crime-fighting strategies as “innovative and cutting edge.”

This week in history

🎤 Here’s my colleague Tommy Rowan with a look back at the Philadelphia Music Festival.

Remember Made in America? Have you been to the Roots Picnic?

Today we take for granted that Philadelphia has an international reputation for hosting major music festivals.

But in a post-World War II America, the city simply wanted to create something for the kids that offered a distraction from war, and also helped celebrate Philly’s legendary music scene.

Leaders called it the Philadelphia Music Festival. The Inquirer, which sponsored the event, called it a “symposium of the arts.” Here’s the story.

❓Pop quiz

Herr’s just debuted three new limited-time, Philly-inspired flavors.

Which of the following is NOT one of the new flavors?

A) Freedom Loaded Cheese Fries

B) Liberty Hickory Barbecue

C) Declaration Dill Pickle

D) United Jalapeño Cream Cheese

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re …

🍝 Obsessed with: The cavatelli Amatriciana at Angelina’s Pizzeria, among the best things we ate this week.

🔔 Moved by: The Liberty Bell popup exhibit on Cherry Street Pier.

💿 Browsing: One of the country’s best record stores, just 50 miles northeast of Philly.

🏠 Impressed by: How a Philly couple bought a $975,000 Fairmount home with no money down.

⛩️ Grabbing: Dinner in Chinatown during Mural Arts founder Jane Golden’s perfect day in the city.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: One of Philadelphia’s true soccer pioneers

BELLY CUNNINGHAM

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

Cheers to Elinda F. Kiss who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Mole Street. The historical holdout in the heart of Center City is getting redeveloped and losing its affordable houses.

P.S. Shoutout to Elinda and others for kindly pointing out some missing letters in that puzzle. “Must be a typo or I did not have enough coffee,” Jim Diamond said (LOL). 😅 Sorry about that, and thanks for being good sports.

Photo of the day

🎶 Today’s song goes like this: “Sometimes, all I think about is you / Late nights in the middle of June.”

One more musical thing: The new Bruce Springsteen museum is a giant scrapbook that validates New Jersey’s role as a music incubator, columnist Inga Saffron writes.

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

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Good morning, Philly.

As hotter summer temps continue to creep up, Inquirer staffers try to help a reader with a timeless issue: how to compromise on setting the air conditioner.

Plus, we’re talking about same-day delivery drones coming to the city, our new daily South Jersey-centric newsletter, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• More Philadelphians struggling to pay their water bills would be able to apply for help under new legislation from City Council.
• Six city pools will be opening by the end of the weekend, with more rolling out in the coming days and weeks. Here’s the initial schedule.
• University of Pennsylvania president J. Larry Jameson will conclude his presidency next year, he announced in an email on Friday.
• Congress will gather at Independence Hall during the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. It’s the first such gathering in Philly since 1987.
• A global meat producer is closing a beef processing facility in Souderton that employs about 1,700.
• Family and friends gathered in South Philadelphia on Thursday night to mourn William Schmidt, a Penn State student they all knew simply as “Billy.” Police are trying to identify his killers.
• A St. Joe’s Prep grad is recovering from a traumatic brain injury after a violent high school “tiki party” in Wissahickon Valley Park.
• Bucks County U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick has stepped up public criticism of House Republican leaders while he starts to lean on their campaign cash.
• Walmart plans to offer same-day delivery via drone in Philadelphia next year. It’s a race against Amazon in who can get to customers fastest.
• From cheesesteak culture going global to Pope Leo getting Tastykakes and more, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.

Love in the time of ACs

A reader asked: Hi we decided to write this together so you have both sides fairly represented. We recently moved in together and it’s going great (young, gay, in love!) but we only have AC in the bedroom. One of us prefers the room wayyyy hotter than the other at night (80 degrees vs. 70 degrees). One of us argues that at 70 degrees, the other person can just wear sweatpants. The other one argues that at 80 degrees it’s not that hot, it saves money, and the other person can focus the fan on themselves. What do we do??

To help this couple divided by 10 degrees meet somewhere in the middle, Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr joined forces with arts and entertainment reporter Earl Hopkins.

I think it’s fair to say this situation hits home for many. It’s the sort of disagreement that could very well make or break a relationship. Beyond general ambient room temperature sensitivities, cultural differences could be at play, too.

“It’s something you may not even think about until you move in with someone and realize they are the Human Torch or Mr. Freeze,” Farr commented. She also gave props to the writers for addressing this issue diplomatically before things got too heated. (Or turned cold …)

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

One viewpoint

After reaching an agreement to stave off painful cuts at the Philadelphia School District, city leaders now have a year to work out the funding.

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks what happened in the switch-up.

“Threatening to make cuts without additional revenue, only to cancel the cuts despite failing to secure new money, makes everyone look opportunistic,” Pearson writes. “What was the fight all about in the first place?”

Read on for his take, as well as a recap of ward leader elections and efforts to make community events affordable.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where these kids are being coached? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets and places to the test. Check your answer.

Let’s talk South Jersey

🎤 Allow me to pass the mic to former morning newsletter emcee Taylor Allen.

Hi, and thanks again for allowing me to fill in for a few days a week here during the last month to share your daily dose of Philly news.

While I was writing to you, I was also working on the launch of The Inquirer’s South Jersey newsletter with a wonderful team of editors and new reporters. Starting on Monday, I’ll be curating a rundown of the most relevant news catered to our readers in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties.

Our reporters have always covered South Jersey schools, politics, and communities, but now, we’re investing more resources in the region — including by hiring two new reporters based in the counties we are covering. This means brand-new journalism delivering what you need to know, from date-night restaurants to neighborhood stories to can’t-miss breaking news. And yes, we’ll have some fun entertainment and lifestyle news in the mix as well.

Selfishly, I’m just happy we’re able to give some love to my home state. Although we love our Philly neighbors, we have our own identity across the bridge.

If you’re interested, join me and sign up here. — Taylor Allen

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A lone historical holdout in the heart of Center City

MOTEL REELS

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

Cheers to Yvonne Bedden-Johnson, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Taylor Swift. The pop star repped the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, leaving some Philly fans feeling betrayed. But she’s had a “magical opinion” of MSG and the Knicks since she was a kid.

💐 We were there

DaJuan Brown, 15, was killed in a mass shooting in 2023. His high school’s graduation ceremony brought his family joy, grief — and an unexpected reunion. Criminal justice reporter Ellie Rushing and staff photographer Jessica Griffin take us to the emotional scenes.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

🪡 Philly whisperer Betsy Kenney plays the role of Betsy Ross.

🌿 Redditors are on the case of the missing basil in South Philly.

⚽ Wawa dropped some soccer merch. My favorite reactions: “i love you Wawa, cater my wedding.” “It’s the little things that keep me going to @wawa.” “Wawa will win the World Cup.”

👋🏽 That’s it for now. Let’s do this again tomorrow.

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The atmosphere may feel like an obnoxious broth, but at least we made it to Friday, Philly.

With thousands of travelers trying to navigate the city during the World Cup, SEPTA has recruited workers and volunteers to help show them the way. Transportation reporter Tom Fitzgerald took us along for the training class.

Two Philadelphia police officers stopped and searched hundreds of Black men on the street. Defense lawyers say the stops were illegal and racially biased.

Plus, City Council plans to investigate the police response at Pride celebrations, and more news of the day.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Translating SEPTA speak

To become a SEPTA ambassador, Tom Fitzgerald went through a bit of boot camp.

From June 13 through July 19, employees and volunteers will be posted at critical transit and Regional Rail stations as the city plays host to a handful of big summer events. As ambassadors, Fitzgerald and others would offer information, directions, and crowd control — baked in with a friendly Philly welcome.

His training included:

Cultural diplomacy: For instance, you should never flash the “OK” hand gesture to a Brazilian. It’s offensive, like flipping the bird.

Emergency scenarios: How to “bring the temperature down” if and when tensions rise or conflicts break out, or handle a more serious situation.

In Tom’s own words: “It’s a lot, which is why up to 1,000 employees have spent half a day in training with a detailed curriculum that feels like cramming for finals.”

Join Fitzgerald’s journey to get certified and help newcomers navigate SEPTA.

🚌 In other SEPTA news: SEPTA is extending Route 45 to provide direct daily bus service to the Navy Yard for the first time in more than a decade.

Police stops face bias claims

Over the course of two years, two Philadelphia police officers systematically targeted hundreds of Black men for unlawful searches, according to lawyers with the Defender Association of Philadelphia.

Since the lawyers challenged the legal justification for the stops, prosecutors have dropped firearms charges against 24 men the officers arrested.

In recent court filings, the lawyers said their review found that the officers mislabeled stops as voluntary encounters, delayed body-camera activation, and avoided required documentation of the stops.

The allegations raise questions about the city’s compliance with a federal consent decree meant to curb unconstitutional stop-and-frisk practices. Philadelphia entered that agreement more than a decade ago.

Criminal justice reporter Jillian Kramer has the story.

What you should know today

• Philadelphia City Council will hold public hearings to examine the police department’s crowd-control tactics used during last Sunday’s Pride festivities in the city’s Gayborhood, a response that drew criticism from LGBTQ+ community leaders who have called the display of force unacceptable.
• City Council approved a bill Thursday to encourage denser and taller development around Philadelphia’s transit stations. The law comes with a caveat: the council must opt stations into it. City Council also voted to ban noncommercial and commercial horse carriages, with exceptions that will be regulated by animal control.
• A new public safety hub is opening on Market Street to coordinate police responses in the area.
• The body of a Philadelphia teenager who vanished earlier this month while swimming in the ocean at the Jersey Shore has been recovered, the Wildwood Police Department said.
• A Chesco judge quashed a land use appeal seeking to halt the construction of a 1.5 million-square-foot data center proposed for East Whiteland Township.
• A Delco-based medical logistics company ceased operations last week, eliminating dozens of workers.
• New Jersey secured a federal disaster declaration for the crops damaged in April’s rare heat-freeze sequence.
• Drexel University received a historic $112.6 million gift to establish its new college of engineering and computing, renovate space in two buildings to foster programs within it, and provide more scholarships.
• Philly artisan brewery Punch Buggy Brewing Company is opening a second location in the suburbs on Saturday.

Plus: What are those colorful markings on the ground?

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 some mysterious-looking symbols and writings on Philly-area streets and sidewalks.

It might look like a bunch of nonsense, but they all mean something. It’s a language by which utility companies communicate what’s happening underground. Here’s the full story.

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

Philly is opening a “hospitality hub” for visitors this summer along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. What is the hub’s main feature?

A) Misting fans

B) Public restrooms

C) Branded sunglasses

D) Water ice

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

What (and whom) we’re …

👟 Rooting for: This 90-year-old Havertown man competing for track and field medals.

🧤 Testing: How hard can it be to stop a penalty kick?

⚽ Recapping: The first jam-packed day of Fan Fest at Lemon Hill (see all the pics here!) and our full guide to the World Cup in Philly.

🥨 Revealing: The final top 10 in our full list of the 76 most iconic Philly foods.

🍧 Asking Philadelphians: What’s the best water ice in Philly? The most popular response might surprise you.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: If you ask some Philadelphia 🏀 fans, this pop star’s claim to the city should be revoked for repping the Knicks.

FLOATY WRIST

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

Cheers to Clare Cosenza, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Reading Terminal Market. The market will be part of a new expansion by the Philadelphia Visitor Center ahead of the large influx of tourists expected this summer.

Photo of the day

🎨 One more artsy thing: Roughly 1,000 of Philly’s murals are on private homes. The Inquirer asked six homeowners why they wanted their properties to join the city’s rich tapestry of murals.

👋🏽 Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend when you get there, 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.

Welcome to Wednesday. Showers are possible, and it’s going to start feeling a lot hotter soon.

As students in Philly prepare to receive report cards and wrap up the academic year, some teachers are sounding the alarm on what they call an open secret.

And the Philadelphia Police Department is under scrutiny from the federal government for its policies on revoking gun permits.

Plus, a beloved Main Line gift and craft store is closing after five decades.

Scroll along for these stories and more news of the day.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Grade inflation

When report cards go out on Thursday, the last day of the 2025-26 school year, some students will learn that they earned a passing grade.

But Philly schools reporter Kristen Graham heard from two dozen teachers who say they were pressured to mark them that way, even if those students performed poorly or didn’t show up. Some say they’ve given out failing grades that were overridden.

✏️ Notable quote: “There’s a push right after grades are due,” said one teacher, who noted that administrators will say, “‘Is there anything you can do to bump these up?’”

✏️ In being discouraged from flunking students, the teachers said they are concerned about the long-term implications for kids who are passed along without the necessary skills to advance.

✏️ One K-8 teacher, a veteran of district schools for three decades, told The Inquirer a “subtle shift” started since the early 2000s, the era of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Read on for the district’s response, a history of its grading policies, and the ripple effect of this approach to grades.

In other Philly schools news: Olney High School stands to lose 17 staff because of budget cuts. At their graduation ceremony, some students included a protest against the looming losses.

Gun permit probe

The Justice Department is looking into whether Philly police violated the Constitution by improperly revoking people’s licenses to carry guns, officials announced Tuesday.

In the city, which has unique laws surrounding gun permits, the police department has broad authority to revoke them.

This comes weeks after five members of the Panthers, a Philadelphia-based armed Black citizens group, reportedly had their gun permits terminated. The Panthers’ leader called the move unconstitutional.

Chris Palmer and Jesse Bunch report.

In other federal news: Three Philly hospitals are among 500 that have been warned by the Trump administration to provide the public with basic pricing information or face fines.

What you should know today

• Councilmember Cindy Bass rejected a roll call vote and declared herself the winner of a Philly ward election. It might have violated party rules.
• A new local improvement district may be needed to care for the Chinatown Stitch cap over the Vine Street Expressway, a city official said.
• A Brooklyn man was convicted of manslaughter as a hate crime and other charges in the 2023 killing of beloved Philadelphia dancer O’Shae Sibley.
• A man who called himself “the Beast” targeted defenseless Philadelphians, including his own mother. A jury has convicted him of all crimes.
• Pennsylvania lawmakers could still deliver additional revenue to Philadelphia, even after City Council last week largely rejected Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s proposed tax increases for the next fiscal year.
• 160,000 Pennsylvania residents who bought a healthcare plan through Pennie, the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, have dropped their coverage following price hikes.
• Lower Merion is advancing a policy to eliminate iPads and laptops for K-2 students after facing intense pushback from parents who say kids are getting too much screen time in school.
• Plenty of Philly hotel rooms and Airbnbs remain available just days before the FIFA World Cup kicks off.
• One of Philly’s last independent accounting firms was just acquired amid an “unprecedented” spree of mergers and deals.
• After 18 months and traffic snarls, Market Street improvements in Old City are complete. The transformation permanently narrowed vehicular traffic, added bike lanes, and built a new public plaza.

Quote of the day

Past Present Future, the Main Line shop that owner Sherry Tillman calls “part gift store, part mini-museum,” is shutting its doors. She plans to sell the Lancaster Avenue building, and will stay open until all the merchandise is gone (“hopefully”).

🧠 Trivia time

A delegation of Philadelphians, on behalf of the National Constitution Center, brought which of the following to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican this week?

A) A bundle of Villanova swag

B) A replica of George Washington’s Acts of Congress

C) A Wawa tote bag filled with Tastykakes

D) All of the above

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re…

🍼 Congratulating: Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast and Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee, who are both expecting.

🤓 Testing: Our knowledge of the World Cup players and nations coming to Philly.

🍋‍🟩 Anticipating: The East Kensington debut of a Mexican agave bar by a James Beard Award-winning duo.

⚽ Planning: Where to watch the games around Philly, from bars open to 4 a.m. to beer gardens in the suburbs.

🍉 Counting: The 76 most iconic Philly foods. Among the newly revealed entries (numbers 54-33) are Carter’s delicious watermelons.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Prior to joining Fox 29, she spent 18 years as part of 6abc’s Action News team.

JADE MYOPIA

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

Cheers to Lars Weintraub, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Five Below. The Philly-based discount retailer recently ditched an unpopular section of its store.

Photo of the day

👋🏽 Thanks for starting your day with us. 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.