Category: Inquirer Morning Newsletter

Welcome to Saturday. We’re promised a nice day out with temps in the 70s.

As summer fades away, a reader decided to stuff his freezer with water ice. Was it a smart move? His wife doesn’t think so. Here’s what Inquirer staffers had to say.

Plus, we cover a rabies warning for South Jersey residents, Eagles fans landing “a seat at the table” to negotiate changes to tailgating, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

What you should know today

• A former supervisor took bribes to approve $139,000 in fake overtime for a colleague at the Philadelphia Fire Department, federal prosecutors say.
• A section of University City will now officially be called Black Bottom, again.
• Democratic State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta has called for Republican Rep. Aaron Bernstine to resign from the Pennsylvania House after he reportedly used a homophobic slur against Kenyatta, who is gay, earlier this week.
• A Philadelphia man was charged with killing his two brothers in 2024. Last week, that case fell apart, and prosecutors dropped the charges, but it’s still unclear who was responsible for the slayings.
• The Gaudreau brothers will be honored on Sunday with the dedication of life-saving equipment made available to the public at Washington Lake Park.
• Three animals in Gloucester County have tested positive for rabies this week. Public health officials are advising residents to avoid contact with wild animals.
• With impending tailgate restrictions on the horizon, a coalition of fans fought to keep Eagles tailgate culture familiar. Some of their complaints were heard Friday, but they say there’s still work to be done.
• From the Phillies’ October run ending earlier than ever to holding out hope in saving the Academy of Natural Sciences, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.

Water ice hoarding

A reader asked: John’s Water Ice just closed for the season, so I decided to do something smart this year: I stocked up. Almost half our freezer is filled with it.

But, my wife says it’s too much, that we have to have people over soon to eat through it so we actually have freezer space, and that it won’t even taste as good a month from now. But I say: Some John’s is better than no John’s. Did I go too far? Or not far enough?

Life and culture reporters Mike Newall and Abigail Covington duked this one out in the group chat. “It’ll be gone before Halloween,” Newall said, pitching in favor of preserving the seasonal treat.

But Newall got cold feet when Covington reminded him that “freezer burn fuzzies” exist. (I also shuddered at the thought.)

Read their full conversation here. And if you need advice, or want to share your thoughts, we want to hear it. Email us here.

One viewpoint

This week, Cherelle L. Parker capped her 1,000th day as mayor of Philadelphia by breaking ground on a big renovation project at McPherson Square Library in Kensington.

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks this mayoral milestone, and why he considers Kensington to be a microcosm of Parker’s tenure.

“If the mayor intends to reach 2,000 days in office without becoming yet another tired and unpopular chief executive, she’ll have to step up her game,” Pearson writes.

Read on for Pearson’s perspective on Parker’s mixed record, along with thoughts on neighbors fighting historic district designation, and the push for a district Council member to retire.

❓Pop quiz

Abbott Elementary is nearly back in session.

In the new season 6 trailer, it’s revealed that first-grade teacher Gregory, played by Tyler James Williams, will now also serve as what?

A) The school’s assistant principal

B) A custodian apprentice to Mr. Johnson

C) A teachers’ union representative

D) All of the above

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This historic building in Center City will soon be home to a new $4 million event space.

KARMA WANE

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

Cheers to John McKeever, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Philadelphia Museum of Art. Earlier this year, a peregrine falcon with lead poisoning was recovered from the Philly landmark and rehabilitated by the Schuylkill Center.

We were there

Fringe Fest marked its 30th year with more than 338 bold productions across Philly. A variety of delightfully strange shows moved our team of reporters to tears, confusion, and amazement.

From solo shows to interactive experiences, here are some of their favorites from this year’s big, bizarre, and bold festival.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

🏒 Phoebe Bridgers’ dog Maxine 🧡’s Gritty.

📺 LeBron James’ first photo shoot as a Sixer + the Action News Theme = golden video.

🧀 On Reddit and beyond, people are talking about the influencer who hurled a cheesesteak at the general manager of Pat’s King of Steaks. The suspect turned himself in, but not before his behavior — which police charged as harassment — birthed new clapbacks. That’s how you internet in Philly.

👋🏽 Thanks for reading. Take care, and I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Premiums spiking

A reckoning over healthcare costs is hitting New Jersey.

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

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

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

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

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

Second chances at stake

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

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

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

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

The Inquirer’s Jillian Kramer has more.

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) Bats

B) Rats

C) Fleas

D) Mice

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

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

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

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

ALMANAC REFLEX

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

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

Photo of the day

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

👋 Cowabunga and see you tomorrow!

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

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

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

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

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

— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Leftward Dems

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

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

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

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

The Inquirer’s Sam Janesch has the full breakdown.

Empty seats

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) Acme Markets

B) Bank of America

C) Independence Blue Cross

D) Bloom Energy

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

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

BLUE SOOTHERS

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

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

Photo of the day

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

👋 Have a wonderful Tuesday.

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

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

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

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

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

— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Goodbye, T. Rex

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

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

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

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

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

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

Taken, then returned

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

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) 41

B) 39

C) 43

D) 49

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

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

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

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

INFUSED OZARKS

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

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

Photo of the day

Here we go again.

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

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

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

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

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

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

*This submission was lightly condensed for space.

👋 See ya tomorrow.

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

Good morning. It’s another soggy day in Philly and the Jersey Shore is reeling from a nor’easter battering the region this weekend.

As the fall season sets in, plenty of must-see theatrical performances are in store. We rounded up the ones we want to see that are coming to the region, complete with places to grab a bite before or after curtain call.

And a new poll reveals how Pa. voters feel about whether Gov. Josh Shapiro should pursue a bid for the White House.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Your theatergoing plans, dinner and drinks included

A variety of exciting productions are set to take center stage this autumn across the Philadelphia region.

As part of our fall arts guide, arts and culture reporters Rosa Cartagena and Jenn Ladd picked 10 shows, along with options to sip and dine nearby to help you plan your experience.

Here’s a preview of the pairings:

🎭 With “The Addams Family: The Musical” at the Walnut Street Theatre, consider tasty tacos and margs at Hi-Lo Taco Co. for a family- (and budget-) friendly option, or go for funky Thai dishes at Dara.

🎭 After “Horsegirl & Cowdaddy” at the Wilma Theater, stop by Kitchen & Kocktails for a Southern-tinged feast with favorites like fried green tomatoes and peach cobbler.

🎭 And “Mamma Mia!” at the Academy of Music may compel you to keep the dazzling night going at Mr. Edison in the Bellevue Hotel. Look out for Craig LaBan-approved items.

See The Inquirer’s list of 10 shows to look forward to, plus our recommendations for pre- or postshow dining near each respective theater.

Keep going: Classical music is pitching a bigger tent than ever this fall. Here are the best offerings.

A nearly even split

As Gov. Josh Shapiro tries to stay “laser-focused” on winning reelection this year, voters in the nation’s most contested swing state are weighing their interest in his presidential prospects.

A poll of likely voters by The Inquirer, the New York Times, and Siena University found:

Voters overall are just about evenly torn on personally wanting the first-term Democrat to run for president — 43% to 44%.

Almost two-thirds of Democrats support the governor seeking higher office.

More than one in five Republicans also support a potential run by Shapiro, a sign of his moderate appeal in a key battleground.

Michelle Baruchman, who reports on campaigns and elections, breaks down the data and explores the key issues that poll respondents said influenced their answers.

What you should know today

• A man was arrested and charged with ethnic intimidation after he allegedly trespassed at a Philadelphia synagogue, tried to open its doors, and made antisemitic statements.
• The Save the Academy Coalition hosted a protest Saturday to bolster efforts to save the Academy of Natural Sciences. Sunday may be the public’s last chance to visit the nearly 200-year-old museum.
• A Germantown housing and community center has begun to receive support it has long needed, but the building’s daily financial challenges remain.
• Delaware County launched a new initiative to provide women with support during and after pregnancy. It’s part of a network expanding patient resources in the Philly suburbs, where prenatal care options have dwindled since last year’s closure of Crozer Health.
• President Donald Trump said Saturday that he rejected Iran’s latest ceasefire proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart talks on the country’s nuclear program.
• Atlantic City’s top cannabis official is facing federal charges for a scheme to solicit cash bribes from a dispensary owner in exchange for fast-tracking their license and avoiding city fees.
• Two days before his 17th birthday, Union phenom Cavan Sullivan started for the U.S. men’s soccer team in his first game with the senior squad on Saturday. He’s now the second-youngest starter in USMNT history.

This week in history

🎤 Here’s Tommy Rowan with a look back at Pope Francis’ visit in 2015.

For the roughly 1 million people who descended upon Philly to try to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis over his two-day visit in September 2015, there was an unprecedented level of security.

Center City was wrapped in a safety cocoon. Vehicles were kept out, and pedestrians were ushered through serious-looking metal detectors.

Despite the restrictions, an overwhelming sense of joy permeated the city, as more than a million people united in celebration of a 78-year-old man and his relentless pursuit of a better world.

Read on for the full story.

❓Pop quiz

A Philly woman won a NASA competition to design what for astronauts on Mars?

A) their space station

B) their food systems

C) their space suits

D) all of the above

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🍝 Hungry for: Candy-shaped pasta from Fiorella.

🕳️ Finding joy in: The unsuspecting beauty of a metal manhole cover.

🏡 Learning: What Inquirer reporter Abigail Covington got wrong when purchasing a home, despite her own extensive reporting for “How I Bought This House.”

🎧 Mixing: Music with Philly’s most famous barista during her perfect day in the city.

🖼 Discovering: How the Philadelphia Museum of Art became home to the world’s largest Duchamp collection.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Philadelphia-born auto service chain

BYE POPS

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

Cheers to Kathy Wersinger, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Museum of the Philadelphian. This new micro museum in Fishtown celebrates quirky Philadelphia lore and the viral locals who embody the spirit of the city.

P.S. Kathy is also celebrating her 72nd birthday this weekend. Here’s to you! 🥳

Photo of the day

This is Zenos Frudakis, creator of one of Philly’s most beloved public artworks — and also its most divisive one. Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr takes us inside his studio, where she spoke with him about his career.

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “And the lady’s feeling like the moon that she loved / Don’t you know that the stars are a part of us?” I recently watched Practical Magic, so now this song is stuck in my head.

One more musical thing: Legends Willie Nelson, 93, and Neil Young, 80, rocked out in concert together to a packed house at the Mann this week. Read pop critic Dan DeLuca’s dispatch from what he dubbed a “one-of-a-kind evening.”

👋🏽 Thanks for reading. Have a great Sunday, and take care.

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

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

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

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

— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

What you should know today

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

Old enough, or not so fast?

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

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

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

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

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

One viewpoint

Is SEPTA finally “getting there”?

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

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

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

❓Pop quiz

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

A) Miami

B) Seattle

C) Austin

D) Nashville

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A new micro museum in Fishtown.

EUPHONIUM HEADLAMP LEFTISH

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

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

We were there

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

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

mRNA vaccine for cancer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I escaped something big.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🧠 Trivia time

Which Philly neighborhood housed the first Ronald McDonald House?

A) Center City

B) North Philadelphia

C) West Philadelphia

D) South Philadelphia

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

What we’re …

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

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

BELIEF VOW

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

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

Photo of the day

Happy 100 years to a jazz legend.

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

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