Category: Inquirer Morning Newsletter

Welcome to July.

With a new month come new restaurants and bars. We compiled a roundup with 16 openings to look out for.

But first, Philadelphia’s July Fourth celebrations will look a little different this year, and they will also cost taxpayers millions more than previous iterations.

Plus, a heat emergency is in effect for the city, and more news of the day.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘This is her big concert’

🎤 Allow me to pass the mic to City Hall reporter Sean Collins Walsh.

With the eyes of the nation on Philadelphia for America’s 250th birthday, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration this year took over management of the city’s free July Fourth concert, which for years was produced by a nonprofit established by the city, Welcome America.

The mayor instead hired ESM Productions, a for-profit company, to put on the annual show featuring musical acts and fireworks over the Ben Franklin Parkway, and she changed the name from Wawa Welcome America to the “One Philly: Unity Concert for America” — a version of Parker’s well-known slogan, “One Philly: A United City.”

Another change: It will cost taxpayers far more than in the past.

The city is due to pay ESM Productions about $15.5 million for the show, which will be headlined by Christina Aguilera, Jill Scott and The Roots and will feature rapper Meek Mill, according to a copy of the city’s contract paperwork with ESM, obtained by The Inquirer. The city in March signed a $10 million contract with the Philadelphia-based company, as well as a $5.5 million contract amendment. — Sean Collins Walsh

Keep reading for Walsh’s full report on the contract, how it compares to last year’s iteration, and how Parker’s office said it plans to publicly disclose the concert’s costs and economic benefits.

In related news: The revamped July Fourt concert is impeding on World Cup fans’ access to a popular tourist attraction.

New digs

From bakeries to brewpubs, summertime will see a flurry of culinary debuts in the Philly area including:

☕ a plant-based cafe in Point Breeze

🥪 a casual sandwich shop fusing Chinese and Cuban flavors in Washington Square West

🍸 an agave-focused Mexican cocktail bar in East Kensington

Food writer Michael Klein has the full calendar.

What you should know today

• Temps in Philly could hit 100 for three consecutive days — something the city hasn’t seen in 33 years. The city declared a heat emergency, and SEPTA and Peco have contingency plans while the airport is on watch.
• The Olney man at the center of a sprawling investigation into the disappearance of at least two women in recent years was taken into federal custody Tuesday and will be detained until trial.
• Police are looking for two teenagers in connection to the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old Penn State student in South Philadelphia.
• A CSX freight train derailed Tuesday afternoon in Bensalem Township. No injuries were reported.
• A Norristown man allegedly bilked dozens out of more than $3.8 million with promises of monthly payments and full returns on principal investments.
• Two Chester County residents have been diagnosed with measles, local health officials said on Tuesday, the first cases reported in the Philadelphia region this summer.
• U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr., who had not been seen since March in Congress or in his competitive New Jersey district, said Tuesday that he had been hospitalized to treat depression.
• Nine protestors who were charged with trespassing for refusing to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment at Swarthmore College last year entered no-contest pleas to summary noise-violation offenses.
• A replica Liberty Bell, a Knoebels amusement park bench, and bags of potato chips are on display as part of Pennsylvania’s showcase at President Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair.

Quote of the day

🥳 The Ben Franklin Bridge turns 100 today. Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr recently walked the iconic bridge that connects Philadelphia and Camden, and urges us all to do the same sooner rather than later. Join her bucket-list adventure here.

Keep going: Our interactive developer Jasen Lo crafted a cool way to learn how the monumental superstructure spanning the Delaware was built.

🧠 Trivia time

Which basketball player is contemplating a return to the Sixers?

A) Michael Carter-Williams

B) Nerlens Noel

C) Ben Simmons

D) None of the above

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🥵 Giving tips on: How to stay cool without air conditioning in Philly.

👟 Impressed by: A Philly man’s record-setting, five-day run across Pennsylvania.

🚧 Heeding: Road closures for Wawa Hoagie Day today and other upcoming events.

⚽ Discussing: Whether the U.S. or Bosnia will win tonight’s knockout match.

🤔 Debunking: Did Pope Leo XIV actually go to a ‘Nova frat party in the 70s?

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Camden County borough

BORING RANT

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

Cheers to Kate Johnston, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Joe Frazier. The boxer’s statue was just moved to the base of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Photo of the day

Philadelphia’s long-shuttered “flying saucer” building is preparing for its next mission: hosting a beer garden and a restaurant.

👋🏽 Thanks for reading. Take care out there.

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

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.

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

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!

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.

It’s Sunday. There’s a chance of showers, with a high near 84.

A longtime Philadelphia snack shop looks to social media for continued growth in the digital age as it marks 50 years in business.

Plus, go inside Urban’s headquarters to see how the company grew from Philly roots to global retailer.

Scroll along for these stories and more.

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

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Cashews to clicks

Nuts To You has been cracking on in Center City since 1976, owned by the same family for three generations.

The snack haven has adapted to a variety of changes, from the rise of the internet to the emptying of the business district in a post-pandemic Philadelphia.

🥜 Dealing with less foot traffic: Walk-in sales are down, but it has offset that through new online customers: 40% of sales come from its website, and the company has explored selling on TikTok.

🥜 Quality above all: “That’s what our customers expect,” said Justin Bernstein, who co-owns the business with his father, Howard, on their promise to loyal customers.

Olivia Prusky has the story on how Nuts To You’s has endured from its front-row seat to an evolving retail landscape.

Inside Urban HQ

Twenty years ago, Urban put down roots at Philadelphia’s Navy Yard. Since then, the company has grown, expanding from one building to a campus that houses 15 buildings and just over 2,500 employees.

To commemorate this momentous anniversary, a decommissioned 1977 tugboat, painted in Urban’s signature yellow and marked by its logo, is now permanently stationed outside its headquarters — as a sort of mascot to cofounder and CEO Dick Hayne.

Urban has almost 800 stores worldwide under the brand names Urban Outfitters, Free People, FP Movement, and Anthropologie and continues to grow.

Business reporter Ariana Perez-Castells dives into its past, present, and future.

What you should know today

• The FBI spent another day searching an Olney home tied to Eugene Albert Horsch as investigators continued processing the property. We have the latest on the investigation in our updated explainer, plus a closer look at Amy McHale, the woman who disappeared in 2016 after she was last seen at the home.
• Nearly 1,200 nurses at Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital ratified a contract that includes raises and additional staffing at the Logan hospital.
• A Philadelphia wedding photographer was sued on Friday by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office for allegedly ripping off her customers for at least $75,000.
• The historic Conkling-Armstrong House will be renovated and expanded to offer 24 affordable apartments in North Philadelphia.
• Philly and its surrounding counties are set for what could be a record-breaking $322 million in federal and state money for trails.
• The Delco jail chief resigned after less than six months on the job, according to a statement released by the county government.
• A move by the Haverford Township School District to buy artificial intelligence tools for students and teachers has been met with protest from parents who fear the technology will erode learning.
• A state Supreme Court decision on skill games could provide funding for SEPTA and dozens of financially strained mass transit systems across Pennsylvania.

This week in history

🎤 Here’s Tommy Rowan with a look back at the skirmish between unpaid Revolutionary War soldiers and members of Congress.

The power of the purse came later.

First came mutiny.

It started with a group of unpaid Revolutionary War soldiers who marched against the country’s primitive government during a weeklong saga in June 1783.

The confrontation so startled the early version of Congress that its members fled from Philly to — of all places — New Jersey.

Read on for the full story.

❓Pop quiz

In a new poll, almost 28% of Philadelphia residents said which city landmark best embodies American democracy?

A) Liberty Bell

B) Independence Hall

C) National Constitution Center

D) Rocky Steps

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🌻 Loving: A rare reunion of two famous van Gogh paintings at the Art Museum.

🍤 Munching on: Fried silverfish and Argentinian empanadas among the best things we ate this week.

🇺🇸 Entertained by: Boston thinks its Revolutionary history might be better than Philly’s. We think that’s pretty cute.

🍽️ Looking to: The mainland for this summer’s biggest Jersey Shore restaurant openings.

🇬🇭 Learning: How Ghana became a part of Philly soccer lore nearly 15 years ago.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: West Chester native and “Jackass” star

ABE GRAMMAR

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

Cheers to Laura Oakes, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: RittenhouseTown. It was the site of the paper mill that was the only source of paper in America for more than 40 years.

Photo of the day

💃 One more story to go: For one night each month, Carlota Ttendant has been an entertainer and an equalizer, responsible for uniting people — gay and straight, from Haddonfield to Phoenixville — around a common goal. Now, after 30 years and raising millions for people with HIV/AIDS, she’s hanging up her heels.

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “The heat was on, rising to the top.” It’s one of my favorites from our playlist of the 76 most iconic Philadelphia songs.

👋🏽 Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Inquirer. 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.

Good morning, Philly. Saturday showers may turn our World Cup game soggy, and it appears a heat wave is on the way.

Trouble is brewing in an homeowner association’s group chat. Members are tired of one neighbor treating it like the complaint department. A reader asked: Should they get the boot? Inquirer staffers share their thoughts.

Plus, we’re talking about a $2.5 million revamp of Market Street, why an East Passyunk bar raised the price of its iconic burger, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• Drivers caught speeding on Frankford Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia will now face a minimum $100 fine thanks to ten new speed-enforcement cameras.
• The feds raided an Olney rowhouse and uncovered drugs, chemicals, fake DEA badges — and possible links to two missing women. A police report obtained by The Inquirer shows what officers found inside the car of the homeowner, who is now held in custody.
• Pennsylvania health officials on Friday said several people have been hospitalized amid a growing measles outbreak that has spread to six counties in the southeastern and central parts of the state.
• The Ocean City Council voted to declare the site of the old Wonderland Pier “in need of rehabilitation,” a designation sought by a developer who plans to build a luxury hotel.
• Market Street just got a glow-up in Old City. Now, Philadelphia officials are planning a major renovation of its sidewalks, landscaping, and streetscapes, from Sixth Street to City Hall.
• Fountain Porter’s iconic $6 burger is now $7. The East Passyunk neighborhood bar made the nearly 17% price increase official after months of watching the prices of ingredients creep up.
• The Wawa Welcome America festival will close streets throughout the city. Here are the road closures planned for the nation’s 250th.
• Several Pennsylvania state offices have been involved in private meetings with a company tied to liquid natural gas export plans for at least a year, records show.
• Next week, Philadelphia will begin a centuries-long stint as the host of a time capsule to be unearthed in 250 years.
• Philadelphia proves once again that no city blends history and absurdity quite like this one. From Revolutionary War reenactments to mascot lodging and a Nicolas Cage bar crawl, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.

HOA chat tensions

This week’s question is: I am in an HOA. We are all in one group chat and are friendly to one another. One of the women in our chat, who is very nice in person, uses the chat to complain, almost weekly.

She thinks the kids are too loud playing outside on a Saturday afternoon. She says one of us put our trash out 20 minutes before we’re technically allowed to. She says one of us closes our front door so hard that it shakes the whole building. She constantly asks for us to get her Amazon packages and if we say we’re not home she says, “ANYONE ELSE?” Yes, in caps.

So yeah, we don’t like her. We’ve tried! So there are some ideas floating around, the main one being: Do we mute that group chat and start a new one without her? Or do we just tell her what the deal is?

Cue “Complaint Department” by Lykke Li.

Inquirer writers Kiki Aranita and Elizabeth Wellington jumped into a group chat of their own for a conversation on this situation. They agreed on the need for ground rules, and established a few for folks to live by. To start, no complaints. “Complaints are for friend group chats, not neighbor group chats,” Aranita said.

The act of keeping it real with the source of the annoyance, however, requires great delicacy. “People need to know when they are getting on your last nerves,” Wellington said, suggesting a gentle approach to confrontation.

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

One viewpoint

This week 149 years ago, 10 Irish Catholic miners were hanged in Pennsylvania following murder convictions in a long-running labor war. It was the biggest mass execution in the state’s long history.

In a column for The Inquirer, Mark Bulik, a retired senior editor for the New York Times and author of a book on the Irish roots of America’s first labor war, explores a hidden link between the notorious labor rebels known as “Molly Maguires” and Philadelphia mummers.

“The connection explains many of the mysteries about the Mollies — where the name came from, why the Mollies wore odd disguises, why they did their killing around high points of the calendar, and why they were revived in Pennsylvania amid resistance to the Civil War draft,” Bulik writes.

Get Bulik’s perspective on why the key to understanding who the Irishmen really were lies in the longtime holiday tradition.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where to find this pool? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s places and streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: The site of America’s first paper mill (one word)

INTENSE THROWOUT

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

Cheers to Susan Walton who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Fourth of July. We rounded up a list of where to watch fireworks for America’s 250th in Philly, the suburbs, South Jersey, and the Shore.

We were there

Thursday’s Group E finale at Philadelphia Stadium saw Ivory Coast take charge with a 2-0 victory over Curaçao for the FIFA World Cup.

For 19-year-old Yan Diomande, Philly will be remembered as the place the rising striker launched his star in America.

Check out the full gallery from staff photographers Jose F. Moreno and Tyger Williams.

One more read to go: FIFA has already set an all-time World Cup attendance record, and Philadelphia has been a major part of that.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

📸 I’m loving Philly-based photographer Oreste Mercado’s ethereal captures of the city.

📰 The paper gets props for this headline presentation in print.

⚾ Owners of Nihonbashi Philly, Tokyo’s shrine to Philly culture, are calling on fellow Japanese netizens to vote for Kyle Schwarber — “NOT SHOHEI OHTANI‼️” — for the MLB All-Star Game. The Phillies’ Instagram page replied: “We are the Philadelphia Phillies and we support this message.”

🇭🇷 A wedding coinciding with a Croatian rally makes for a wholesome moment of celebration.

👋🏽 Thanks for spending time here this morning. I’ll bring you the latest news again tomorrow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Uncertain future with uncertain revenue

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Budget cuts impact city art programs

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

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

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

Arts and culture reporter Peter Dobrin breaks it down here.

What you should know today

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

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

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

This week, we’re resurfacing an explainer about how Philly’s 21 police districts are enigmatically numbered. Why, for example, is South Philly, split into Districts 1, 3, and 17?

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

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) The Camden Shuffle

B) The Camden Slide

C) The Camden Bop

D) The Camden Boogie

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

What (and whom) we’re …

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

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: 250th 🇺🇸 🎆 🎉

HUFF JURY TOOL

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

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

Photo of the day

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

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

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

Good morning, Philly. And good news for Curaçao and Côte d’Ivoire: It’s shaping up to be a good day to play in the World Cup.

Today we’re starting with a look at a City Hall power couple that stands to reap up to $750,000 by briefly retiring — then continuing to work for the city.

And speaking of FIFA’s soccer spectacle, we heard from several Philadelphians who had planned the perfect World Cup weekends for their families — but never made it into the stadium.

Plus, most Philadelphians back sanctuary city status, and more news of the day.

— Tommy Rowan (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Power moves

City Hall power couple Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. and City Representative Jazelle Jones are poised to collect up to $752,000 in combined payouts from Philadelphia’s widely criticized DROP program.

The program, the Deferred Retirement Option Plan, is an early retirement incentive for city workers that two decades ago sparked a major scandal in City Hall.

But neither of the city officials, who are married, is actually retiring.

Check out the full report from Ryan Briggs and Sean Walsh.

Short of the goal

Fans in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, New Jersey, Seattle, and Philadelphia have all shared the same story.

People across U.S. host cities arrived at stadiums for the World Cup hoping their tickets would be transferred, but to no avail.

Most faced issues with StubHub, while other reports indicate fans are having similar issues on SeatGeek.

“We’re standing outside the stadium and obviously everybody is in full celebration, and here we are, supposed to be living this World Cup moment together for the first time, and there’s just this feeling of disappointment,” said Fishtown resident Georgette Luna, whose family never made it in.

Read the full story from reporters Henry Savage and Michelle Myers.

In related news: The World Cup was originally expected to generate a $770 million economic impact in the Philadelphia region. But just $30 million to $90 million is likely to stay in the area, according to a new report.

What you should know today

• A significant majority of residents want Philadelphia to remain a sanctuary for immigrants, according to a new poll that shows the overwhelmingly Democratic city is undeterred by President Trump’s threats to defund so-called sanctuary cities.
• A former Delaware County woman with ties to a cult-like group is charged with shooting her parents in her childhood home. The arrest follows years of suspicion.
• Exton Square Mall, Chester County’s only enclosed mall, will close its doors next week after five decades as a retail hub.
• The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision to limit city prosecutors’ ability to work to overturn old murder convictions took square aim at one of District Attorney Larry’s Krasner’s signature initiatives.
• A former employee at a Hatboro daycare injured a child with special needs by slamming him, hard, into a chair and, later, onto the floor, prosecutors said.
• A Pennsylvania program that assists homeowners and small landlords by financing repairs was on track Wednesday to expand nationwide. Then Trump refused to sign the bill.
• Police said a 25-year-old man who posed as a student repeatedly gained entry to Abington Senior High School and later tried to rape a student.
• Project HOME is adding 20 beds to a Hunting Park shelter to house hospital patients who have nowhere to go once they’re discharged.

Quote of the day

Wherever they went, whatever they did, Twins Blake and Austin Havertine did it together. Soccer, basketball, football, and baseball, when it came to sports the Havertine twins were inseparable. What they also did together was leave an indelible legacy for Radnor High School baseball that may never be surpassed by a pair of brother pitchers,

Now, for the first time in their lives, they will be going their separate ways.

🧠 Trivia time

This week we’re counting down the 76 most iconic Philly songs, and today we’re unveiling No. 32-11. Which of these didn’t make the cut?

A) Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now (theme From ‘Rocky’)”

B) Patti LaBelle’s “If Only You Knew”

C) Boyz II Men’s “Motownphilly”

D) They’re all groovy

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🏀 Excited about. Labaron Philon Jr., landing with the Sixers with the 22nd overall pick in the NBA draft was worth the wait. Go inside his draft night, and his unexpected fall to the “perfect spot” in Philadelphia.

📖 Reading. For her Inquirer column, “Parent Trip,” writer Andee Hochman attempted to answer one question: What does the road to parenthood look like for people who don’t follow the family “norm”? And now she’s distilled those nine years of reporting and 468 parenthood columns into a forthcoming book.

🏡 Inspecting. A historic Philly mansion has been listed for sale with 10 fireplaces and nine bedrooms. But there’s a catch — once a year, the owner must permit “a re-enactment of portions of the Battle of Germantown” on their front lawn.

🍸 Curious about. Developers are planning to add a new rooftop nightclub along the Camden waterfront. The club would be built atop a four-floor parking garage.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: SEPTA is planning an 86-unit apartment complex near this station.

INK JON WENT

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

Cheers to Barbara Goudarzi, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Triple Bottom Brewing. The Spring Garden brewery is adding an exciting new food vendor: revered Mexican restaurant South Philly Barbacoa.

Photo of the day

And we end with the debut of a new landscaped median on South Broad Street in front of the Kimmel Center. The new feature has been under construction for months and is a down payment on a promised major redo of the Avenue of the Arts streetscape.

👋 Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. Paola Pérez has you covered tomorrow.

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Welcome to Wednesday.

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

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

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

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

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Survey says…

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

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

Among the responses, they found:

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

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

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

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

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

Shifting blame

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

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

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

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

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

Investigative reporter Barbara Laker has the latest.

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) a shrine to the Phillie Phanatic

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

C) a toothpick diorama of Independence Hall

D) a custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

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

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

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Spring Garden brewery

TWITTER BINGO PROBLEM

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

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

Photo of the day

👋🏽 That’s it for now. Thanks for reading, and have a great day.

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

Happy Tuesday, Philly. We’re surrounding ourselves with some local inspo today. One local business has stripped down what we’re drinking to local herbs that are blended and bottled by hand. And The Inquirer’s list of the most iconic Philly songs captures the sounds of the city.

Plus, storms created a mess for some World Cup fans on Monday. Let’s hope that’s behind us now.

— Alyssa Passeggio (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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A refreshing scene

The trend of analog technology and grandma hobbies have morphed into a new niche: handmade beverages. Meredith Sheehy spends hours each week distilling herb blends from Pennsylvania farms before they are carbonated and bottled — all by hand.

Each batch takes three days to complete in the sunny Kensington shop. She and a legendary Philadelphia bartender tinkered with test batches inspired by the city and the ingredients.

The zero-proof fizzy spritzes have found early success at bars and stores across the city as part of the growing sober curious movement.

Go inside the Cult of Tree’s story.

The most iconic Philly songs

As the nation prepares for its 250th anniversary, Inquirer music critic Dan DeLuca asks: What is Philadelphia music?

“Many of these songs are included mainly because they say something about Philadelphia, and who we are as Philadelphians,” DeLuca explains in the introduction to his countdown of the 76 most essential songs for the city.

Dig in to the first part of this four-part series.

🎧 Bonus: Listen along to the playlist as we count down.

What you should know today

• Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has called on lawmakers to double the money they set aside for school districts to update aging buildings.
• Amazon employees said they spent unpaid time off-the-clock before their shifts in COVID-19 screenings. The company has agreed to fork over $3 million in a settlement.
• President Donald Trump is visiting a truck manufacturing facility in the Lehigh Valley today as a competitive race for Congress heats up.
• A Yardley family has sued an infant formula company and Target after their two-month-old developed botulism.
• Over the last two centuries, Pennsylvania’s political glass ceiling has proven stubbornly resistant to cracks. Stacy Garrity said she doesn’t give that too much thought.

Quote of the day

Today’s 50-year-olds were born into a changing landscape for personal freedoms as America celebrated its Bicentennial. Columnist Elizabeth Wellington interviewed a special group of Gen Xers who are reflecting as we near the country’s Semiquincentennial.

🧠 Trivia time

A 21-year-old Judy Garland held her first public concert at which storied Philadelphia venue?

A) Academy of Music

B) The Met Philadelphia

C) Mann Center for the Performing Arts

D) Theatre of Living Arts

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

💸 Budgeting to see a few of the must-watch concerts on Dan DeLuca’s summer list.

😲 Tickled by what columnist Stephanie Farr refers to as a revolutionary event: a Nic Cage-themed night around Jenkintown.

🥙 Craving some falafel after a look at Hira Qureshi’s favorite halal restaurants.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: 🎩 A Tony-award winning campy comedy is coming to Philadelphia.

AHOY MR!

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

Cheers to Tammy Murphy, who solved Monday’s anagram: The All-American Rejects, 2000s pop-rock sensations, are taking over the main stage at the FIFA Fan Festival next month.

Photo of the day

Storms led to the cancellation of the Fan Festival in Lemon Hill, but the weather didn’t stop fans representing France and Iraq before the World Cup game at the Linc.

👋 Have a great Tuesday.

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

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

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

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

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Oh rats

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

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

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

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

Environmental reporter Frank Kummer explains the findings.

Embracing modernity

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

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

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

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

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

Go inside the major makeover with consumer reporter Erin McCarthy.

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

What is she selling there now?

A) Cheesesteaks

B) Water ice

C) Soft pretzels

D) Hot dogs

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re…

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

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

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

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

ARTS CERAMIC JANELLE

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

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

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

Photo of the day

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

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from David McMenamin, who describes a memory marked by music:

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

👋🏽 Go Phils, and have a great day.

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