Good morning, Philly. It’s expected to be another warm one today, with highs in the low 90s. The rest of the week will be just as hot.

Philadelphia has seen a boom in e-bike and e-scooter use, but the vehicles come with a more dangerous price than traditional cycling. Injuries from electric bikes and scooters rose by 40% between 2024 and 2025.

Three Philadelphia City Council districts have emerged as key battlegrounds in the 2027 election. All 17 sitting City Council members appear poised to seek reelection next year, but a wave of potential challengers are gearing up to take on the old guard.

Plus, Bryce Harper spoke out about a video he made that went to a FanDuel customer with a gambling addiction, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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The dangers of e-bikes and e-scooters

Last year, more traffic crashes causing injury and death in Philadelphia involved electric bikes and scooters than manual ones, according to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation data. The finding highlights a new reality in which e-bikes and e-scooters present a major safety problem, the state confirmed.

The high numbers of injuries and deaths point to the need for legal clarity, statewide safety regulations, and new infrastructure to protect users of e-bikes, e-scooters, and bicycle riders from cars and trucks, advocates contend.

E-bikes and scooters are poorly defined in Pennsylvania law. The ambiguity makes it hard for governments to identify problems; PennDot did not analyze separate crash data for the electric devices until 2024, for instance.

Several bills to regulate these vehicles have been proposed in the state legislature, but none have been passed.

City Council gears up for elections

Philadelphia City Council is already looking to 2027. And with all 17 seats on the ballot next spring, the elections are shaping up to be a pivotal test of whether the city’s established politicians can withstand a rising tide of frustration with the party among Democratic voters.

Every incumbent has said they intend to run for reelection, and several are likely to face serious challenges from new candidates focused on grassroots organizing and progressive groups. Three districts have emerged as key battlegrounds.

In the North Philadelphia-based 5th District, at least four people are considering challenging Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr., a freshman lawmaker who has championed controversial legislation and at times publicly clashed with constituents.

And the city’s progressive organizations, emboldened by a series of wins locally and nationally, are targeting two other districts: the 1st, which stretches from South Philadelphia to Fishtown and is represented by Councilmember Mark Squilla, and the 8th, which includes parts of North and Northwest Philadelphia and is represented by Councilmember Cindy Bass.

The Inquirer’s Anna Orso and Sean Collins Walsh have the full story.

What you should know today

• Bryce Harper, the Phillies’ All-Star first basemen, claimed that he was unknowingly working on behalf of FanDuel when he recorded a personalized video for a man with a gambling addiction who had placed millions of dollars in bets on the site.
• Temple University will make student retention a focus in the year ahead with new programming for the first-year student experience and other efforts in the works as it seeks to reverse troubling trends in enrollment and matriculation.
• Thomas Jefferson University is bringing its medical education offerings to Allentown, with a new four-year regional campus set to enroll students in 2029, officials announced.
• For the first time in two decades, more money will soon be flowing into the pockets of Pennsylvania’s retired public school teachers, firefighters, police officers and other state employees.
• A Philadelphia judge has blocked the city from resuming work to upgrade protections for the bike lanes along Pine and Spruce Streets in Center City, the latest turn in a high-profile legal battle.
• Philadelphia last week took a step toward renewing its contract with a controversial Chester trash incinerator after a high-profile bill to ban the city from doing so failed to garner enough support in City Council.
• Asylon Robotics, a 100-employee robot software and hardware maker based in Norristown, says it has been selected to test its network of doglike robots, flying robots, and software links at the Air Force’s Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex in Georgia.

Quote of the day

Richard D. Wood Jr., chair emeritus and former CEO and president of Wawa Inc., Convenience Store News Hall of Famer, lawyer, trustee, mentor, veteran, and philanthropist, died on July 10. He was 88. For more than 40 years, Wood supervised Wawa’s multistate expansion, and through it all, he remained affable and curious, friends and family said.

🧠 Trivia time

Which Phillies legend made an appearance behind the counter of Sarcone’s Bakery earlier this week?

A) Jimmy Rollins

B) Ryan Howard

C) Chase Utley

D) Cole Hamels

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re …

⚽ Looking forward to: The U.S. women’s soccer team returning to Subaru Park in October. They’ll face the reigning World Cup champion, Spain.

🦅 Learning about: Jonathan Jones and Samori Touré, who have just joined the Eagles.

👀 Keeping an eye on: Pennsylvania lawmakers have only days to set sentencing guidelines for felony murder cases. Hundreds of cases are on the line.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: 🎶 Baby, you light up my world like nobody else / The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed / But when you smile at the ground, it ain’t hard to tell / You don’t know, oh-oh, you don’t know you’re beautiful. 🎶

INSULT MOON SOIL

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

Cheers to Lori Franzke, who solved Monday’s anagram: Cristopher Sánchez. Sánchez, the Phillies’ ace, has been informed he’s the choice to start for the National League on Tuesday night in Citizens Bank Park, a league source confirmed.

Photo of the day

🌳 One last thing: Hundreds of trees fell in Philadelphia within a matter of minutes during Saturday’s storm. “We’ve never seen anything like this,” said the Parks and Recreation commissioner.

👋 Have a good day, everyone. I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning.

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! Happy Monday. It’s expected to be another hot one today, with highs nearing the 90s.

Some special-needs students in Philadelphia say they are waiting hours this summer for buses that never come. The Philadelphia School District acknowledged “significant delays” for some students in the extended school year program.

And some young, Philly-area workers say they fear remote work more than AI. There are disadvantages to remote and hybrid work, but they can be mitigated.

Plus, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker declared a disaster emergency as Philly cleans up from weekend storms, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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🚌 ‘It’s a huge inconvenience’

Brent Rose and his 9-year-old son, Alexander, were ready for the bus on the first day of a summer school program in North Philadelphia for children with special needs. Alexander, who is on the autism spectrum, was told to be ready for the bus at 8:08 a.m. But when it had not come by 9:30, Rose’s wife drove their son.

The episode was not an anomaly. Three weeks into the Philadelphia School District’s extended school year program, Rose said that on more than half of the days, his son’s bus simply has not shown up.

Rose said the district has directed him to call dispatch for First Student, the company that operates his son’s bus route. But often no one answers that line, Rose said.

A spokesperson for the school district said the district is aware that “some families have experienced transportation delays and service disruptions for the Extended School Year (ESY) programming.”

The Inquirer’s Maddie Hanna has the full story.

🧑‍💻 The pros and cons of remote work

Soon after Aubrey Lee graduated college and moved to Queen Village in 2021, she determined that her burgeoning career in marketing would be aided by time spent in an actual office. She had found it alienating to fully work from home, with little chance to interact with coworkers.

“I feel like remote work, especially at such an early point in my career, made me more of a face on a Teams screen than an actual person,” said Lee. “I’d also been inside, locked away from my senior year of college during COVID and feeling very isolated.”

Remote work has many advantages, especially for those with physical disabilities, parents of small children, older workers, and those caring for elderly relatives. It also reduces time spent commuting and money spent eating at restaurants.

But soon after desks emptied in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, battle lines began forming over the future of the office.

What you should know today

• Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has declared a disaster emergency one day after at least four storms known as microbursts ripped through parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery County, downing trees and power lines and causing electrical outages and road closures.
• Eastern State Penitentiary opened its new permanent exhibition, “Freedom Through Faith: Judaism at Eastern State and Beyond,” a restored synagogue that’s the first within a U.S. prison.
• Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress who traveled the globe to advocate for a more aggressive U.S. foreign policy, has died after a “brief and sudden illness,” his office said. He was 71.
• The White House directed FBI Director Kash Patel to oversee a leak investigation into reporting by the New York Times about security issues with the new Air Force One, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
• A federal judge on Friday night granted the Justice Department’s request to dismiss the seditious-conspiracy case against four top members of the Proud Boys who led a violent mob into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Quote of the day

Susan Morrissey’s body was discovered along the banks of the Brandywine River nearly seven years ago. But to this day, the Delaware County teacher’s murder remains unsolved, and her family is still left wondering what happened.

🧠 Trivia time

Which of these counties has drastically reduced homelessness thanks to one family’s hard work along with countywide cross-sector collaboration?

A) Bucks County

B) Delaware County

C) Montgomery County

D) Chester County

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🍦 Trying: A new ice cream shop in Fishtown, hailing all the way from Idaho!

🍽️ Appreciating: Home Appétit, a Philly business that started by making dinners for doctors. Now, it’s selling thousands of meals a week.

⚾ Listening to: The story behind why Tug McGraw, a beloved Phillie, gave a teen fan his World Series jersey. After decades of holding onto the jersey, its owner is ready to part with it.

🚽 Considering: Does Philly need more public restrooms? A self-proclaimed “toilet scholar” weighs in.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: He’s a baseball pitcher

ACHINESS CROP HERTZ

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

Cheers to Gerry Dinon, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Kylian Mbappé. The French soccer star condemned a Paraguayan senator over racist remarks she made following Paraguay’s loss to France in the round of 16 at the World Cup game in Philadelphia.

Plus: Two soccer hopefuls from Kensington got the full World Cup experience, including getting to meet Mbappé.

Photo of the day

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to a night that changed your life and 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 reader Michael Leibrandt, who describes gridlock in Philly:

If you call yourself a true Philadelphian you are used to spending time in some traffic gridlock. We’re not just one of the most congested cities in America, but in the world. By the time that I was an adolescent it was a part of almost any trip that I took around the city. But for a chance to take in a fun weekend trip in North America’s oldest planned city, my father never complained.

Sometime around the late 1960s, the days of Philadelphia winning championship after championship were over. What would follow was the relocation of professional sports to South Philadelphia. Attending an Eagles home game on a Sunday afternoon? Better leave early.

Now, Governor Josh Shapiro, in cooperation with the Parker Administration, has announced a $30 million project intended to improve the traffic patterns around the sports complex including a new I-76 ramp, an expansion of I-95 access, a hub for traffic operations located in the complex, even new AI traffic signals.

It’s hard to imagine what Philly would be like without the traffic. After all — if you were traveling through Philadelphia in the summer of 1776 — you were almost certainly equally as frustrated with bulky horse-drawn carriages rumbling slowly through cobblestone streets. That must have been a whole other level of aggravation.

👋 Bye all! Have a good one!

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Good morning, Philly! Ready for another rainy day? Be prepared to break out the umbrellas for the rest of the week. ☔

Some workers say DA Larry Krasner has put up roadblocks to securing a union and taken positions that the workers see as at odds with his public image as a leader of the city’s progressive movement.

Philly chefs are taking brunch, once the most dreaded offering, seriously — but not too seriously. A handful of local restaurants have reimagined the genre and the results are delicious.

Plus, a rowing program for breast cancer survivors is set to compete across the pond, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘He is not pushing for us’

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has long said he’s a friend to organized labor. As prosecutors in his office are gearing up for an election to authorize their union, Krasner has said their efforts could ensure his own legacy. But not everyone in his office is feeling the support.

More than 100 lower-level employees in the District Attorney’s Office, including paralegals and victim and witness coordinators, are separately trying to secure their own union — and some say they’re meeting resistance.

Several workers said that Krasner’s administration has put up roadblocks and taken positions that they see as at odds with his public image as a leader of the city’s progressive movement.

And meanwhile, the lower-level employees say there’s been a separate Wild West-style standoff between two unions, which are both vying to represent them.

The Inquirer’s Anna Orso has more information.

🥐 A brunch renaissance in Philly

🍳 The golden age of brunch has arrived in Philadelphia, borne on the menus of chefs who are reinventing the genre.

🥞 All over the city, chefs who had long focused on dinner are turning their attention to brunch-specific menus, some available just one day a week. The results are dazzling.

🥓 To many in the restaurant industry, the very word brunch conjures up feelings of dread. The stigma against the not-quite-breakfast, not-quite-lunch meal, often accompanied by endless mimosas, has endured. Until now.

☕ Rice & Sambal’s brunch-specific snacks, savory items, and sweet dishes are extensive. They range from crispy tofu to lumpia (vegetable and bamboo-stuffed spring rolls) to a Sumatran rendang. And La Jefa’s brunch features Guadalajaran twists on American brunch standards, like chilaquiles tucked into omelets.

What you should know today

• Five people were arrested ahead of Philadelphia’s July Fourth celebration after protesters attempted to set an American flag on fire, according to police.
• A Northeast Philadelphia mosque was damaged in an arson attack early Sunday morning, authorities said, rattling the city’s Islamic community.
• The president and CEO of Welcome America Inc. has resigned, and while the reasons were unclear, the announcement followed the city’s decision to take over Philly’s Fourth of July concert and fireworks from the organization that has organized it since 1993.
• Fresh off the first playoff berth of his career, Tyson Foerster locked in his future with the Flyers, last week signing an eight-year extension with $7.1 million average annual value.
• Ring of Honor, a wrestling promotion under the AEW banner that was founded in Philadelphia, will return to the city on Aug. 21 to host its pay-per-view event, Death Before Dishonor, at the 2300 Arena for a second consecutive year.

Quote of the day

WeCanRow-Philadelphia is a rowing program through Whitemarsh Boat Club for breast cancer survivors. While the program focuses on mental and physical healing for those treated for breast cancer, the participants are competitors, too. From July 10 to 12, Whitemarsh Boat Club will have three boats compete at the Henley Masters Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, England.

🧠 Trivia time

Which of these NBA players played for both the Sixers and the Celtics?

A) Moses Malone

B) Dana Barros

C) Allen Iverson

D) Hal Greer

Think you know? Check your answer. And be sure to take the rest of our quiz to test your Sixers knowledge.

What we’re…

🐮 Obsessed with: The Bradford County dairy cow beauty pageant! The last one took place 100 years ago.

⚾ Learning: Everything we need to know about baseball’s best coming to Philly for the 97th All-Star Game.

⛹️ Celebrating: The official addition of Jaylen Brown to the Sixers. He was was acquired in exchange for Paul George and four draft picks.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Sportscaster and radio play-by-play announcer for the Phillies

ETC FRATS ZONK

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

Cheers to Gerald Frank, who solved Monday’s anagram: Benjamin Franklin. Philly held a Ben Franklin look-alike contest on the eve of Independence Day. ‘Twas glorious.

Photo of the day

👋 Have a great day, folks! Stay dry.

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! Welcome to the start of a new week.

While Philadelphia and school district officials have celebrated a deal to save 340 classroom jobs, teachers and staff members face continued uncertainties in an already tumultuous hiring season.

In other news, the newly elected sheriff of Delaware County, Siddiq Kamara said he was motivated to run after his cousin, Fanta Bility, was killed by Sharon Hill police while leaving a football game in August 2021. “The people in Delaware County, I’m here to work with them,” he said.

Plus, some Philly residents are questioning the late July Fourth fireworks, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘I’m on this roller coaster’

When a deal was struck to save 340 classroom-based jobs in the Philadelphia School District, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. declared it “Christmas in June.”

It’s July now, but staffers still don’t have clarity on exactly who’s allowed to come back to positions that were almost cut, and how that affects vacancies systemwide.

Monique Braxton, the school district spokesperson, said the system is “moving forward with restoring the approximately 340 school-based positions approved in the revised budget,” but that staffing the positions is separate from restoring them.

The complex process is causing additional uncertainty for teachers and staff members, and prolonging an already tumultuous hiring season as the district deals with fallout from 17 forthcoming school closings and the back-and-forth over millions in cuts stemming from a $300 million district budget deficit.

The Inquirer’s Kristen A. Graham has the full story.

There’s a new sheriff in town

Siddiq Kamara remembers standing side by side with his aunt outside of the Delaware County courthouse and calling for changes in how police are trained, after a stray bullet fired by Sharon Hill police officers killed his cousin, Fanta Bility. Three years later, Kamara’s office is inside that same courthouse.

Kamara, 30, became the youngest sheriff in Delaware County history when he cruised to victory in November with 63% of the vote. He’s a born-and-raised Delco native who turned his family’s tragedy into a platform for improving the way community policing is carried out in his home county.

Notable quote: “This is the greatest country in the world. Being 30, being Muslim, being a first generation immigrant, and being the sheriff of one of the biggest counties in Pennsylvania, it’s unheard of. And I don’t take that lightly.”

In his first six months in office, Kamara has equipped all of his deputies with body cameras and beefed up recruiting efforts, including opening fitness tests throughout the county to help fill the 35 vacancies he inherited. He’s mandated de-escalation and regular firearms training for his deputies, in memory of his cousin.

Vinny Vella has more on Kamara’s inspiring story.

What you should know today

• Linemen, call center workers, and other Peco employees went on strike over the weekend. The roughly 1,500 unionized workers, part of IBEW Local 614, officially walked off the job, becoming the first employees to strike in Peco’s history.
• U.S. men’s soccer team star striker Folarin Balogun will be available to play in Monday’s World Cup round of 16 game after all.
• University of Pennsylvania physician Anuja Dokras spent the last 14 years working to rename a common medical condition that can impact fertility in women, called polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS.
• City officials have estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have flocked to the monthlong World Cup watch party, which started in mid-June and is set to run through mid-July. But last week, some Brewerytown business owners said they had yet to reap the benefits.
• The Trump administration will not seek new bids to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Sunday as he faced new questions about the troubled project and the taxpayer money involved.

Quote of the day

City officials originally planned for Fourth of July fireworks to go off around midnight, but because of weather delays, the show didn’t start until roughly 2:30 a.m. Some residents are questioning that choice, but the city said safety was a big factor.

🧠 Trivia time

Which celebrity duo was just married at Madison Square Garden with actor Adam Sandler officiating?

A) Taylor Swift + Travis Kelce

B) Zendaya + Tom Holland

C) Rihanna + A$AP Rocky

D) Kylie Jenner + Timothée Chalamet

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🤔 Wondering: Was it rude to turn down a Fourth of July barbecue because it’s 1,000 degrees outside? You asked, we answered.

🌎 Learning: Where tourists are traveling from to visit Philadelphia for the World Cup. As it turns out, Ecuador was one country where travel surged.

🏡 Impressed by: A man cut his rent by $2,000 a month. Within months, he had saved enough to buy his own house in Southwest Philly.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: One of the Founding Fathers of the United States

INN LANK BENJI FARM

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

Cheers to Brian Lowy, who solved the last anagram: Danny’s Guitar Shop. The destination for Main Line musicians closed its doors after 17 years.

Photo of the day

📸 One more thing: Check out what else our photographers saw over the weekend.

📬 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 reader Gerard Letterie, who describes pretzels and politics:

Pretzel vendors and the occasional “pretzel boy” roving through neighborhoods in the summer were proudly part of the Philly scene in the 1960s and ’70s. My image of the average pretzel vendor changed with Frank Lomento, whose presence at his pretzel stand at the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Parkway Central Library was a familiar sight.

My Sunday afternoons were spent at the Central Library hammering out college writing assignments. The pretzels were a midafternoon incentive. As I learned while grabbing a pretzel, Lomento was a man of opinion. In 1971, he decided to run for mayor. He had no political background. No deep pocket sponsors. No super PAC. Just a pretzel vendor cart, a Squeeze Please yellow mustard dispenser, and an iconic presence at the curbside. He had a willingness to talk politics in addition to selling you a pretzel.

When he announced his candidacy, he propped up a cardboard sign with a handwritten message: “Frank Lomento for Mayor.” In Lomento’s opinion, what couldn’t be fixed with a pretzel (slathering of mustard optional) needed a political solution. So, he stepped up and in to the mayoral fray.

In an unusually crowded candidate field for the ’71 Democratic mayoral primary, Frank Lomento stood out as an independent and, by some counts, a “protest candidate” alongside William J. Green III, Ira Einhorn, James E. Poole, Albert Sprague, Frank Rizzo, and Hardy Williams. Rizzo ultimately won as the machine-backed candidate, known as “the toughest cop in America.”

Undaunted and after a time away from politics, Lomento entered the mayoral race again in 1983. He lost, but he also gathered 19,000 votes. He was a common, blue-collar guy with a presence and a message that resonated on several levels with Philly’s working-class crowd.

Where else other than Philadelphia would you find a pretzel vendor who leveraged (both figuratively and literally) a man-on-the-street presence into a mayoral candidacy? Not once, but twice in a major American city? A regular guy with the courage to run for office. Totally and uniquely Philly. And an abiding memory of Philadelphia for me, among so many others.

👋 Talk to you later, Philly!

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Good morning, Philly! Get ready for a hot one today with highs expected to hit the low 90s — and then it gets really hot!

The Russian invasion of Ukraine forced millions of people from their homes. That’s why the Pavliutina family ended up in the Philly area. Despite loving their time here, because of rising pressure on immigrants, they’re leaving the United States.

Philadelphia is home to hundreds of statues, some honoring historical figures, others celebrating beloved fictional heroes. So now, The Inquirer is wondering: Who deserves Philly’s next great statue?

Plus, Philadelphia police found a “significant amount” of blood inside the Olney house linked to the investigation of at least two missing women, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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🧳 Packing their bags (again)

Four years ago Veronika Pavliutina and her three young children landed in Philadelphia after fleeing Ukraine, escaping the war as Russia shelled their home city. Their big shock: The outpouring of care and kindness that greeted them here. Pavliutina, 48, said she’ll never forget it.

But now, she said, it’s time to leave. Federal pressure on Ukrainian war immigrants has created doubt about the family’s ability to stay in the U.S. and raised fears about what could happen if they do.

The government designation that allows Pavliutina and her children to live here, Temporary Protected Status, expires for Ukraine in October. There has been no sign the Trump administration plans to renew it.

Pavliutina has felt the changed government attitude toward immigrants, the ICE arrests and detentions, the common resentment and casual hate. “More and more I can see, it’s becoming not safe,” she said.

The Inquirer’s Jeff Gammage has the full story.

Philadelphia’s Next Top Statue

Philly now has three Rocky statues. That’s three statues celebrating a fictional Philadelphian. And while many great (real) Philadelphians already have statues, there are so many who don’t.

That got us wondering: Who do you think should be Philadelphia’s Next Top Statue?

It’s not an easy question, so we’re putting it to a vote. The Inquirer created a list of just 26 potential candidates. It’s up to you to decide who’s worthy of a statue in our great city.

Should it be Will Smith? Questlove? Play and find out.

What you should know today

• Law enforcement sources said police are prepared to excavate the front and backyards of an Olney house in search of potential human remains after a “significant amount” of blood was found in the home. The house is linked to the investigations of two missing women, authorities say.
• Philadelphia police are investigating whether three men shot near the Hunting Park Recreation Center in the last month — two of them fatally and just six days apart — were targeted by the same gunman, according to law enforcement sources.
• Local police and fire responded to a house explosion in Sellersville, Bucks County, on Monday that left the property in ruins and white debris scattered in a broad blast radius.
• President Donald Trump’s administration has wiped almost all mentions of slavery from a panel accompanying a portrait of Thomas Jefferson at the Second Bank of the United States.
• The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a Mississippi law that allows officials to tally mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrive later, a decision that keeps voting procedures in place in several states as the midterm elections loom.
• Temple University has asked its schools, colleges, and administrative units to cut a total of $60 million to help offset a projected deficit for 2026-27. President John Fry said “some reduction in force is inevitable.”

Quote of the day

In a new Men’s Health story, Ben Simmons said he’s eyeing an NBA return after a year away. Though Simmons mentioned possibly making a comeback in Philly, his 2022 breakup with the 76ers was messy.

🧠 Trivia time

Who just joined the Eagles as the team’s newest linebacker?

A) Kapena Gushiken

B) Andy Dalton

C) Arnold Ebiketie

D) Jaeden Roberts

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

⚽ Watching (on repeat): We all know the World Cup, but this ain’t that. This is The Inquirer Cup, where participants play for worldwide glory (and a hat).

☀️ Bracing for: The 100-degree temps expected to hit Philly later this week, just in time for the Fourth of July.

🎤 Excited about: Broadway legend and Frozen star Idina Menzel will be coming back to Philly for a free Pops concert on Independence Mall.

🏙️ Impressed by: These 26 Philly students who will become tour guides to greet tourists, give directions, and recommend the best our city has to offer over the next six weeks.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: American professional boxer

AIR FOR JEEZ

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

Cheers to Rebecca Welch Pugh, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Rachel Maddow. The TV news host spent some of her formative years in West Philly. She recently returned to talk about her time here ahead of an MS NOW event.

Photo of the day

👋 Have a good day, everyone! Paola will be back with your daily dose of The Inquirer tomorrow morning.

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Happy Monday, Philly! Welcome to the start of a new week.

As we near the pinnacle of Semiquincentennial celebrations on July 4, historical reenactors recall the long months of arduous work it took to perfect their roles.

And Eagles training camp is almost here! Before football season kicks off, The Inquirer took a look at some of the newbies joining the Birds’ roster.

Plus, The Inquirer sat down with Pa. Attorney General Dave Sunday, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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📜 Bringing history to life

The lead-up to the nation’s Semiquincentennial is historical reenactors’ Super Bowl run.

A cast of Ben Franklins, John Adamses, and Betsy Rosses — actors who have spent months and uprooted their lives to learn about and live as colonial America’s key characters — will be at the front lines of the 250th birthday celebrations. They will become de facto historians, guides, entertainers, and ushers to an expected crush of tourists, all while anchoring how the country’s earliest days are memorialized and whose stories get to be told.

The set of actors is part of Historic Philadelphia’s Once Upon a Nation program. This year is expected to be one of its biggest ever, with the most actors, plays, scripts, and events.

“Speaking in 18th-century tongue continuously, I am nervous about that. I want to portray it real,” one reenactor said.

Dana Munro and Maggie Prosser have the full story.

🦅 A look at the new Birds

With Eagles training camp drawing nearer, The Inquirer is taking a closer look at the more than three dozen new faces who are expected to report along with the rest of the team on July 28.

Whether they’re a 2026 draft choice, a veteran addition, or a rookie free-agent hopeful, we’re telling you more about each player’s potential role this season.

The first player we’ll take a look at is 38-year-old quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton has the most NFL experience on the 2026 Eagles — that’s unless Brandon Graham returns. The veteran quarterback is going into his 16th NFL season.

Fun fact: Dalton has zero career playoff wins and has thrown just one touchdown pass in the postseason.

The Inquirer’s Olivia Reiner has more.

What you should know today

• A federal judge dismissed a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit seeking to obtain Pennsylvania’s entire, unredacted, voter-registration database.
• Home insurance costs in N.J. and Pa. are below national averages, but are still on the rise, experts say.
• The Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul was a center of resilience Sunday, as dozens of Philly Venezuelans gathered to collect aid for folks affected by two earthquakes that struck the South American country on Wednesday.
• Philadelphia has a long-standing reputation as an underdog city, but when it comes to hosting the FIFA World Cup, Anne Ryan, Pennsylvania’s deputy secretary of tourism, sees Philadelphia as a front-runner.
• Frances Ratay was among those in Temple-led research who saw improvements in well-being, as her fear of bees transformed into a greater appreciation for nature.
• Philly’s Jaron Ennis knocked out Xander Zayas to become the junior middleweight champion.

Quote of the day

Big Night is a food movie, an Italian American movie, and on top of all of that, it’s a Jersey Shore movie. Actor Tony Shalhoub took a look back at his time making the iconic film.

🧠 Trivia time

This local university will create the first endowed editor position at its student newspaper thanks to a million-dollar gift.

A) Penn State University

B) Drexel University

C) La Salle University

D) Temple University

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

📰 Reading: An Inquirer interview with Pa. Attorney General Dave Sunday. He talked about a recent Supreme Court ruling on the work of DA Larry Krasner’s Conviction Integrity Unit.

🛒 Trying: The “store of the future” unveiled by Walmart in Warminster. Some shoppers say they love the improvements.

🏀 Analyzing: The divide between Pennsylvania’s public and private high school sports. For years, there’s been tension — but a new law could change things.

🏡 Admiring: How a man bought his dream Shore house. He lives in California, but having spent his childhood in Wildwood, he wanted a place his family could gather and revive old traditions.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: TV news program host and liberal political commentator.

CHARMED WALDO

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

Cheers to Meg Fagan, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Bam Margera. The “Jackass” star has been mired in legal issues, in and out of rehab, for years. Now, his family says he seems to be “out of the darkness.”

Photo of the day

🐣 And one last cool thing: Residents in Collingswood have spent years fighting for backyard chickens. Now, there’s hope they might win.

📬 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 reader Bobby Reed, who describes his found family in the City of Brotherly Love:

When I moved to Philadelphia in the fall of 2009 I did not know a single person (other than my former partner). I did not have a job, didn’t know what a Wawa was, and could not yet justify throwing snowballs at Santa Claus (who was drunk). I hit the pavement and got a few odd jobs, one of which was tutoring a family’s kids.

My moment was when I was invited to this family’s Thanksgiving dinner. Because I had to work during the holiday and couldn’t afford a flight, I couldn’t get home to Colorado to see my biological family.

But the entire meal made me feel like I was at home. They told me stories about the Eagles and Phillies, what Philadelphia was like when they grew up in the ’80s, how the city has changed, and how the parents met and fell in love.

From that night forward, I knew I had a group of folks that I could lean on. I had a Philadelphia family that would help me through thick and thin, the way Philly families do. I walked around the city the next day with a sense that I belonged here.

I wasn’t that different from the people here. I had simply grown up in a different state, but still held the same values and had the same fight and fire for those values.

I’ve lived here now for almost 17 years and I’m proud to say that I’m from Philadelphia, the most underrated city in America.

👋 That’s all from me, folks. Have a good rest of your day!

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Good morning, Philly! We’re officially halfway through the week. There’s a chance of rain today with highs in the low 80s.

Julian Lurie, son of Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, is the future of the business. But how much do we really know about him? And how will he run the Birds once he takes the reins? The Inquirer asked around to find out.

A group of students were asked the question: What will Philly look like in 25 years? They wrote plays in response, detailing the changes they want to see.

Plus, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court blasted DA Larry Krasner’s office, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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A new Lurie to take the reins

Julian Lurie is not just Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie’s only son, he is his intended successor. And while that reality has caused occasional challenges since he took a formal role in the family business four years ago, many key figures within the organization believe the younger Lurie is already an asset.

Interviews with Eagles sources revealed Julian’s already considerable prominence. They depicted an intense but thoughtful young man who was born not only into great privilege, but with a shared civic passion for the football team his father bought in 1994, the year before Julian was born.

Jeffrey Lurie is widely considered one of the NFL’s best owners after his three-plus decades in the league. His son will have big shoes to fill when the time comes. Julian is an outside-the-box thinker like his father, but he also wants to bring a younger sensibility to the Eagles, sources close to him said.

Notable quote: “If I lived in Philadelphia and I was an Eagles fan, I would feel really good about him as a steward of the franchise in the future. I really do think he cares about the team and the city and the players.”

The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane has the full story.

🎭 The show must go on

A group of students spent nearly a year thinking, researching, and writing about changes they want to see in Philadelphia. This month, their work culminated in professional performances of original plays based on how they envision Philly in 25 years.

The student work is part of What Now: 2026, a new arts festival marking the country’s Semiquincentennial. Students of the Civic Theater Project were prompted to imagine Philadelphia 25 years in the future, to dream about what should be changed, and to see their work as the beginning of that shift.

One play chronicles two young women’s rise to stardom and the effect of substance use on their lives. It was shaped by events the writer experienced growing up in North Philadelphia and attending an elite private school.

Part of the students’ process was finding resources that might help with the issues they tackled — from recovery and housing assistance organizations to groups that support survivors of sexual assault.

What you should know today

• The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office misled the courts, “violated its duty of candor,” and submitted false statements when asking a judge to vacate a 2004 murder conviction.
• The parents of CHOP physician Barbara Friedes, who was killed in 2024 while riding her bike in Center City, have sued the drunk driver who hit her.
• Three Philadelphia-area athletes were recently arrested in connection with an April assault in Old City that left the victim with a concussion, broken nose, and two chipped teeth, among other injuries.
• Over the weekend, the Philadelphia Parking Authority said it issued nearly 2,500 tickets for illegal parking in the FIFA Fan Festival parking enforcement zone, with 173 of those tickets written in error to residents with valid parking permits.
• Women working in Philadelphia continue to make less than their male counterparts, according to a new report from the Forum of Executive Women. Women in the local workforce still earn on average about 89 cents for every dollar men make, according to the organization’s annual report.
• A scrap-metal recycling facility in Camden that has been prone to fires is suing the city for suspending its operations after its 13th fire in six years. In the complaint, the company argues that the city acted outside of its power and did not provide due process by issuing the suspension.

Quote of the day

Tanya Clark waited four years to face the person who killed her nephew in court and hear him admit what he’d done. His guilty plea brought some answers — but not enough.

🧠 Trivia time

1,200 union nurses at which Philly hospital voted to authorize a strike this week?

A) Temple University Hospital

B) Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital

C) Roxborough Memorial Hospital

D) Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🦀 Craving: Soft shell crabs! ’Tis the season for them. Check out where you can find them in Philadelphia.

⛪ Wanting to see: “Luminiscence,” a new immersive experience that uses light to alter one of Philly’s most famous altars — the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.

🥤 Sipping on: Surfside, which has taken over the nation’s alcohol industry. But fear not, its founders say: The brand is staying put in Philly.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A multinational supermarket chain.

HOOFED OWLS

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

Cheers to Bob Centonze, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Annie McCormick. The former 6abc reporter’s new book, Restless Ghosts, is about the deaths of two South Jersey socialites in 1929.

Photo of the day

👋 That’s all from me! Have a great day, everyone.

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Good morning, Philly! Happy Tuesday. Get ready for another sunny day with temps expected to be in the high 70s.

A former Delaware County gym manager was once a startup sensation, raising over $30 million for technology that cleaned up problematic social media posts. Now, he’s facing two lawsuits after the downfall of his company.

After being closed for a year, the Highmark Mann Center debuted its new look this week. Leaders say they want to establish the space as a cultural hub with a serious artistic history.

Plus, the James Beard Awards ceremony took place last night, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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The rise and fall of LifeBrand

T.J. Colaiezzi was a former gym manager from Delaware County who’d dropped out of college and couldn’t write code. But with $27 million in venture capital in the bank, he began his AI-powered startup.

His company LifeBrand, he said, was a safeguard for the cancel culture era, with software that could scour years of social media in seconds and flag compromising posts.

Hundreds of pages of court documents and internal company records reviewed by The Inquirer, as well as interviews with a dozen people involved with LifeBrand, tell the story of how a fledgling CEO won over deep-pocketed athletes and business owners. Then Colaiezzi — following a series of admitted missteps and alleged misspending — was forced to sell the $137 million tech company he built for next to nothing.

In two lawsuits, investors say Colaiezzi squandered their money on a marketing blitz, hired unqualified friends at inflated salaries, and pocketed $6 million to finance a lavish lifestyle.

The Inquirer’s Max Marin has the full story.

Mann, it’s good to be back

Greener and roomier with a chic naturalistic look, the Highmark Mann Center officially reopened Monday after the final phase of a yearslong renovation. Construction at Philadelphia’s outdoor arts center in Fairmount Park went not just down to the wire, but a few weeks beyond it, delayed by this past winter’s stretch of snow.

The renovations include a redesigned plaza three times the size of the previous one, and a substantial new gateway entrance structure. A spectacular digital screen now bedazzles the main concert shed, greeting visitors with a stream of video art and programming rendered in images vivid and saturated even in bright sunlight.

The Satell Centennial Wall East on the side of TD Pavilion won’t carry advertising, Mann leaders vow, but instead will offer digital sequences on culture, history, and the like.

Notable quote: “The Highmark Mann has a lot of people who love us. We want to become their premier destination, for them to come here and bring family and friends and say, ‘Oh my God, look at what we have in Philadelphia. This is world class.’”

Arts reporter Peter Dobrin has more.

What you should know today

• Seven Philly finalists were up for major acknowledgments from last night’s 2026 James Beard Awards in Chicago. The Inquirer has the latest on the winners.
• One of three Philadelphia police officers wounded in an exchange of gunfire that left a retired firefighter dead in West Philly over the weekend was released from the hospital Monday, as authorities continued to investigate the shooting.
• Bucks County prosecutors said they have resolved the case of the last teenager arrested during an anti-ICE protest in Quakertown that turned violent. The 16-year-old agreed to enter into a diversion program in exchange for the dismissal and expungement of the charges.
• An ICE agent was hit with a vehicle in Manahawkin early Monday, as he tried to arrest the individual who later fled in the car, according to local police. As the suspect got away, the agent fired and struck the vehicle.
• The Philadelphia Democrat whose congressional district includes Independence Hall accused President Donald Trump of trying to transform the 250th anniversary into a celebration of himself rather than the country.
• The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Monday that so-called skill games are slot machine devices and should be regulated as such.
• Britain will ban children aged under 16 from using a range of social media apps, including Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, to protect them from harmful content and excessive screen time, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

Quote of the day

Players and parents from Cheltenham High School feel “betrayed” after the district canceled the 2026 varsity and junior varsity football season. It all stems from an investigation of an alleged hazing incident that prematurely ended play last season.

🧠 Trivia time

Fox Corp. is buying which of these streaming platforms in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $22 billion?

A) Netflix

B) Fubo

C) Pluto TV

D) Roku

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🍻 Toasting to: The return of Iron Hill Brewery in Huntingdon Valley. It’s set to reopen next week.

🏠 Admiring: A West Philly apartment decorated entirely in black, white, and gray. Take a look inside!

🛒 Following: The Inquirer’s guide to Cherry Hill’s newly improved H Mart. It’s a 39,000-square-foot store.

🧜‍♀️ Wondering: What does Mermaid Italian Ice taste like? Rita’s just dropped the new limited-edition flavor.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This author was, up until recently, a local broadcast reporter in Philadelphia.

CIRCE MANIC MONK

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

Cheers to Ken Schwartz, who solved Monday’s anagram: Chartreuse. Supply of the liquor may be dwindling, but some Philly bars have a stash.

Photo of the day

👋 That’s all for today, folks! Talk to you again Wednesday morning.

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! Welcome to a new week. We may see a bit of rain today, and highs are expected to be near 80.

Philly progressives are eyeing the mayor’s office after State Rep. Chris Rabb’s win in the 3rd Congressional District. But any challenger to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker would be considered a significant underdog.

And a group of 1960s Haverford College alumni has been writing to school officials, urging them to form a committee to consider removing U.S. Commerce Secretary and mega donor Howard Lutnick’s name from the library.

Plus, three Philadelphia police officers were wounded in a shooting late Saturday, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Could an underdog take office?

In a little more than 10 months, Mayor Parker, a centrist Democrat and Philly’s first female mayor, will be up for reelection. She has not officially announced a campaign, but all signs indicate she intends to run again.

Any challenger to Parker would be considered an underdog, though. The mayor has the power of incumbency; no mayor in the last eight decades in our deep-blue city has lost a bid for a second term. And Parker is backed by the city’s long-powerful Democratic establishment, contributing to the foregone conclusion that their allied mayor would win again.

However, some on the left see a coalescence of forces that could bolster their chances: national frustration with the Democratic establishment and a widespread anti-incumbent sentiment, among other factors. They also see potential signs of Parker’s power waning.

But the biggest question for progressives in the approaching mayoral race remains: Who could be their candidate? A Democratic strategist based in Philadelphia said there are few, if any, challengers to Parker who could pull off a win in 2027.

Alumni weigh in on controversial library name

About a dozen vocal Haverford College alumni have come out in strident disagreement with president Wendy Raymond’s decision to not take steps toward considering the removal of Howard Lutnick’s name from the school library.

Several in the group have called for Raymond’s resignation, while at least one said he had withheld his donation.

Some were critical of Lutnick even before Department of Justice documents released earlier this year showed he had contact with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as recently as 2018, long after Epstein pleaded guilty to obtaining a minor for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute.

But Raymond stood by and explained her decision during a Zoom call this week with former board members, and the current board chair said Lutnick himself feels that he is being targeted in a witch hunt, according to accounts of the meeting.

“I am appalled,” one alumni wrote to Raymond. “You should resign immediately so Haverford‘s board can replace you with a leader who puts principle ahead of principal.”

What you should know today

• Three Philly officers were wounded in a shooting after a verbal altercation with a retired city firefighter escalated, and the man opened fire on them, officials said. The gunman, identified as Eric Franks, was killed by officers in response, according to authorities.
• The feud between Anthropic and the Trump administration escalated again Saturday after the government took the unusual step of demanding that the artificial intelligence company cut off foreign access to its latest models.
• Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell was admitted to a hospital Sunday, his spokesperson said. McConnell’s health has been a subject of scrutiny for years.
• The Urban League of Greater Philadelphia is opening a free clinic in West Philadelphia for people without health insurance. The $8 million Center for Well-Being will also offer workforce development, housing, and other services.
• Jalen Brunson, a Villanova alumnus, and the Comeback Knicks did it again. Now they’re the Champion Knicks for the first time in 53 years after beating the Spurs 94-90.

Quote of the day

Jayzen Smith, a recent graduate of West Philadelphia High, overcame housing and food insecurity. He graduated with honors last week and is employed full-time in operations with the Penn Medicine health system. But the diploma, the accolades, and the steady path were not a given, said Smith.

🧠 Trivia time

What animal appears on Wawa’s iconic logo?

A) A moose

B) A goose

C) A mouse

D) An eagle

Think you know? Check your answer. And be sure to take the rest of our quiz to see if you can identify the current logos for other Philly businesses.

What we’re …

😋 Dying to try: Samosas and viral dot cakes from Manayunk’s Saffron Cafe.

👂 Listening to: Advice from five Chester County centenarians, who range in age from 99 to 104. They’re sharing some of their life secrets.

♟️ Playing: Chess! Philly is home to a thriving community of chess players, bringing together people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A botanical liqueur produced by monks in France. (Hint: It’s one word.)

CURE EARTHS

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

Cheers to Lorraine Haggerty, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Benny McLaughlin. The Philly soccer legend couldn’t play in the epic 1950 World Cup because it would have cost him his job.

Photo of the day

📬 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 reader Keith Vine, who describes why Philly is the best sports city:

I grew up in New Jersey, about a 15-minute ride to the stadium complex in South Philly. So naturally, I was a Phillies / Eagles / Flyers / Sixers fan. Philadelphia is a great sports city, but I get why most of the country doesn’t understand us.

Having rejoiced (but mostly suffered) through the ups and downs of our teams, Philly fans have developed a hard edge. After numerous collapses, we have always been nervous if a season is going too well. Other cities’ fans wonder why we can’t relax and enjoy the prosperity, but we are too afraid that it will end any minute.

We are, for the most part, a pretty intelligent fan base, and will not put up with any nonsense being passed off as wisdom. When Bill Giles told us that Philadelphia was a small-market team, we scoffed.

A sports writer (I can’t remember who) captured the very essence of being a Philly fan by saying that, “Philadelphia fans will tolerate losing, barely. What they won’t tolerate is not trying.”

It’s a great time to be a sports fan in Philadelphia, especially with the World Cup finally here. 👋 Have a great day, folks! Be back in your inbox tomorrow morning.

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Good morning, Philly! Get ready for a hot one today, with highs expected to hit the 90s. The city’s even declared a heat health emergency.

More than a decade ago, the Fraternal Order of Police was able to persuade the city to significantly boost how much it would pay to cover funeral expenses for fallen officers. But an Inquirer investigation found the union has billed taxpayers for questionable expenses.

City officials encouraged local organizers to have neighborhood parties this summer in honor of the nation’s 250th, the World Cup, and more. But now permit requests are being denied, and confusion is mounting as to why.

Plus, the Philly School District will not make 340 classroom job cuts after all, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Funeral bar tabs on taxpayer dime

After a tragic and unprecedented spike in officer deaths, Philadelphia’s police union made an emotional plea for help: Its charitable organization was running low on funds and struggling to give fallen officers the respectful burials they deserved.

City officials stepped up, agreeing in 2014 to significantly boost how much they would pay to cover funeral expenses. Since then, for each officer who died in the line of duty, the city has contributed up to $75,000 in tax dollars.

But an Inquirer investigation found that the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 has billed the city for an array of expenses that are far outside the scope of funeral home and cemetery costs. The union has asked to be reimbursed tens of thousands of dollars for bar and restaurant tabs, alcohol, catering costs, car repairs, carpet and upholstery cleaning, socks and underwear, garbage bags, and paper towels.

The city’s $75,000 contributions for officer funeral expenses, which had not been previously reported, prompt new questions about the FOP’s Survivors’ Fund, the union’s own charitable organization that raises money to pay for funerals and support the families of officers who were killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.

The Inquirer’s Barbara Laker has the full story.

There goes the neighborhood (party)

Philadelphia is slated to have an abundance of block parties and street festivals this summer after the city encouraged neighborhoods to join in celebrating the nation’s 250th with their own events, even offering financial support for hosting through various grants.

But some organizers who responded to the calls are now learning there’s a limit on so-called festival street closure permits for events between June 11 and July 18. That’s essentially the duration of World Cup, July Fourth, and MLB All-Star events. The Office of Special Events did not immediately say how many street closure applications were denied for that period of time.

Notable quote: “The city government, in this case the Commerce Department, is literally trying to give communities money to host events and yet the city is also, on the other hand, denying the ability to host events.”

Though some of these events plan to move forward as “sidewalk activations” that organizers say will still be fun, frustration remains over an already complicated permitting process, made more difficult by what organizers argue has been confusing messaging from the city.

What you should know today

• Philadelphia School District officials will move to restore 340 classroom-based jobs that were slated to be cut, despite district leaders saying last week that they did not have the recurring funding needed to keep the positions.
• It’s the eve of the World Cup and the night before Philly bars can remain open until 4 a.m. But many are still waiting to see if they’ll qualify.
• Today is the last day of classes for the Philadelphia School District’s 216 schools. A quarter of them will dismiss early because of hot temperatures.
• Philadelphia’s Democratic City Committee is likely to take the rare step of ordering a redo of Monday’s controversial 22nd Ward leader election, in which City Councilmember Cindy Bass declared herself the victor after a closely divided voice vote.
• A race for a key swing district in Northeastern Pennsylvania has caught the eye of a major Democratic super PAC that plans to spend around $50 million on advertising targeting Republican-held seats, according to the New York Times.
• Christen “Chris” Woods, the former leader of one of Philadelphia’s largest labor unions, was acquitted of theft and conspiracy charges by a judge who rejected prosecutors’ allegations that he used a union-funded renovation project to secretly funnel money into local political campaigns.
• Johan Rojas will not play for the Phillies in 2026 after suffering an elbow injury. Rojas is already serving an 80-game suspension without pay for testing positive for boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance.

Quote of the day

After 15 people were arrested on Sunday during Pride celebrations, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said she is investigating and meeting with community leaders.

🧠 Trivia time

Who is the comedian and actress who was once cursed out at Philadelphia International Airport? (Hint: She’s talked about it on her hit podcast.)

A) Tina Fey

B) Nikki Glaser

C) Amy Poehler

D) None of the above

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

😋 Craving: The most iconic dishes in Philly! Check out The 76 list for must-try bites around the city.

🗓️ Planning for: The 2026 Odunde Festival, Philly’s annual African cultural celebration. We have everything you’ll need to know.

🎉 Celebrating: Time magazine dropped its inaugural list of the 100 most influential people in sports, and it’s loaded with Philly faves!

🧠 Learning: Did you know Philadelphia is the birthplace of the Continental Army, the first branch of the American military? It all began in 1775.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This iconic Philly food spot was recently voted Best Public Market in the country.

ADMIRER MENTAL RETAKING

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

Cheers to Kate Hetherington, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Jamie Apody, who’s getting an expanded role at Fox 29. “I’m so thrilled to be doing what I love again,” Apody said.

Photo of the day

FloatLab, a public art feature that will offer an eye-level view of the Schuylkill, finished its voyage up the East Coast from North Carolina to Southwest Philly.

👋 That’s it from me, folks! 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.