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

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

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

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

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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🚌 ‘It’s a huge inconvenience’

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

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

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

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

The Inquirer’s Maddie Hanna has the full story.

🧑‍💻 The pros and cons of remote work

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) Bucks County

B) Delaware County

C) Montgomery County

D) Chester County

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

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

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: He’s a baseball pitcher

ACHINESS CROP HERTZ

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

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

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

Photo of the day

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

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

This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Michael Leibrandt, who describes gridlock in Philly:

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

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

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

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

👋 Bye all! Have a good one!

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Rise and shine, Philly. We’re promised mostly sunny skies with a high near 85.

Our Sunday read is about a Delco woman who spends her free time locating stubbornly lost dogs in the Philly area.

And a local business got its start by making dinners for doctors. Now it’s selling thousands of meals a week.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Closing in on canines

They call her the Delco Dog Detective, but her real name is Colleen Bell, and she has a true passion for tracking down pups in distress in the Philadelphia region.

By Bell’s estimates, she has recovered nearly 1,000 dogs over the last 14 years, using her own unique methods to accomplish the mission.

Two years ago, Bell created the nonprofit GoodBoy Dog Recovery to facilitate the growing costs of the operation. But she’s not in it for the money or fame, reports The Inquirer’s Dana Munro.

“She does it purely for a love of the game, the thrill of the hunt, the satisfaction of capturing a petrified pup, and the fulfillment of reuniting it with a frenzied family,” Munro writes.

In Bell’s own words: “We never stop until we catch the dog.”

Read the full story here.

‘Bursting at the seams’

Home Appétit traces its humble beginnings to a Center City apartment in 2013. This year, the meal delivery company is on track to rake in $10 million in revenue.

🛒 What it does: Brings roughly 16,000 to 20,000 fully prepared meals a week within a 50-mile radius, according to founder and CEO Lee Wallach.

🛒 Next up: A move to a former catering facility in East Falls in September. It’s currently operating out of a space off City Avenue in West Philly.

Business reporter Ariana Perez-Castells has the story on why Home Appétit grew as some competitors fizzled.

What you should know today

• Tattooed Mom, one of the city’s most iconic dive bars, said it’s been ordered to cease all live music and performances by the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections.
• Top Pennsylvania leaders have reached a $50 billion state budget deal, sources say.
• Philly Democrats criticized President Donald Trump’s recent promotion of Freedom Fuel stations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as an effort to fool people about the high price of gas rather than a long-term solution to the problem.
• A sampling of Philadelphia stores and businesses showed half are violating the city’s ordinance that bans plastic bags and requires a fee on paper bags, according to an environmental group.
• Lower Merion’s police department is investigating a string of itinerant burglaries that have occurred in the township in recent weeks.
• Two elite rowers and a couple of bystanders jumped into action — and into the water — Friday afternoon to rescue a man who drove his car into the Schuylkill.
• Philly-based retailer Five Below plans to open its 2,000th store soon. The company’s expansion puts it on par with Home Depot and Target.
• Abington moved toward banning e-bikes and e-scooters at public parks and trails.
• A new FDA study found traces of heavy metals in tampons, but not enough to cause harm. Fewer girls use tampons today, an expert told The Inquirer.
• With seven days and eight nations remaining in the World Cup, Fan Fest’s commitment to remain open for the full 39 days of the tournament includes four concerts starting Sunday.

This week in history

🎤 Here’s Tommy Rowan with a look back at the legalization of bingo in Pennsylvania.

Despite its proliferation across charitable events and senior centers, bingo is considered gambling.

And it wasn’t always legal.

But on July 10, 1981, Republican Pennsylvania Gov. Dick Thornburgh signed the Bingo Law.

It was time to crack down on the ping-pong-ball pullers. Read on for the full story.

❓Pop quiz

Despite the blowout loss, the USMNT-Belgium World Cup game drew more than:

A) 65 million viewers

B) 100 million viewers

C) 50 million viewers

D) None of the above

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🧅 Mesmerized by: Kibbeh nayyeh at Suraya, among the best things we ate this week.

☕ Loving: How the World Cup provided a sense of community at a University City coffee shop.

🧳 Packing for: The perfect Jersey Shore weekend in Sea Isle and Strathmere.

🏰 Admiring: The distinctly Philadelphia Victoriana architecture of an 1891 building that looks like a castle, a cathedral, and a factory.

🌉 Learning: Before the Ben Franklin Bridge opened 100 years ago, Pennsylvania wanted to make it toll-free.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: French soccer star

INKY MAPPABLE

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

Cheers to Jimi Ogunneye, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Patti LaBelle. “The Godmother of Soul” will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the MLB All-Star Game. But she won’t be the only local performer.

One more All-Star story: We looked into how baseball’s midsummer celebration has transformed into a major-league merchandising machine.

Photo of the day

🎶 Today’s song goes like this: “Nothing I can say / A total eclipse of the heart.” Grammy-nominated Welsh pop star Bonnie Tyler died last week. She was 75.

One more musical thing: An old-fashioned Battle of the Bands is coming to Philly.

👋🏽 That’s it for now. Thanks for reading, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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 Saturday, Philly. Showers are possible today.

A starstruck reader asked us for tips on how to calmly live next door to Super Bowl royalty.

Plus, we have an update on El Niño, a look at who is behind the Trump-promoted stations selling cheap gas in the region, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• Road closures and parking restrictions are in effect for the MLB All-Star Game events in Philly. Here are the details.
• Federal marshals arrested a man in Philadelphia in connection with a homicide in Puerto Rico.
• Philly hotels and cultural institutions saw historic crowds during Independence Week, according to new data by the city’s tourism agency.
• Delco is working to restore county services to residents after a “sophisticated cybercriminal attack” disrupted its network systems in late June.
• A Philadelphia-based political firm is at the center of the fallout of Graham Platner’s failed Senate campaign in Maine.
• Delta Air Lines customers are paying the price for record jet fuel costs after the recent leak and fire at the company’s refinery in Delco.
• Some of the 25 gas stations selling mysteriously cheap fuel in the Philly area and South Jersey have ties to local owners. There are ethical concerns.
• Warming in the tropical Pacific has been intensifying rapidly, and with increasing certainty government meteorologists say this El Niño event could become the strongest in records dating to 1950.
• Access to therapy is about to get easier for Pennsylvania residents who travel out of state.
• From the Schmitter making its long-awaited return to CBP to the Ben Franklin Bridge celebrating its 100th birthday, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.

The Bird next door

This week’s question is: A beloved Eagles player moved to our neighborhood. I have to pass by his house every time I drop off or pick up my son from daycare. And every time I inevitably stare at his house, and then tell myself “be cool, be cool.” I did one time throw a “Go Birds!” at him when he stopped his car to let me cross the sidewalk. How many more “Go Birds” do I get? Should we, as his new neighbors, pretend he’s not a Super Bowl champion?!

To tackle the situation, Inquirer reporters Earl Hopkins and Stephanie Farr first addressed the most important aspect: “One ‘Go Birds’ is enough,” said Hopkins. “(All right, maybe two.)”

Overall, they suggested our dazzled reader lead with casual, friendly interactions, and strongly advised against fanatic behavior. For instance, don’t swarm the guy with jerseys at a neighborhood block party that he may or may not attend.

Relative distance is also key. “It matters how close this person lives to the Eagles player,” Farr said.

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

One viewpoint

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is examining a video from Phillies star Bryce Harper that FanDuel sent to a VIP with a gambling addiction.

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks Pennsylvania’s gambling dependence.

“The more lawmakers in the Keystone State rely on gambling to pay our bills, the more complicit we are in the industry’s misdeeds,” Pearson writes.

Read on for Pearson’s take, along with his perspectives on property tax assessments and state budget negotiations.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where you can get this view? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly places and streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: “The Godmother of Soul”

ALBEIT PALLET

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

Cheers to Stacy Stone, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Rothman Orthopaedics. The large physician-owned group plans to open three new surgery centers over the next year and keep adding doctors in its Philadelphia-area market.

We were there

Staff photographer Monica Herndon captured Philly artist Paul Carpenter in his element, painting “a love letter to Philadelphia.”

Carpenter went from painting Phillies murals in his bedroom to designing limited-edition aluminum bottles. Trending sports reporter Ariel Simpson has the story of how Carpenter is scaling up his artwork in South Philly.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

🏈 A young Eagles fan asked Saquon Barkley a funny question during youth camp.

⛱️ @bobbyfiler comically plays out motherly shenanigans down the Shore.

🔬 Fairmount Water Works shows us the microscopic creatures living in one “scoop” of the Schuylkill.

👋🏽 Thanks for stopping by, 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.

It’s Friday, Philly.

The city broke a 74-year-old rain record on Thursday. As for today, patchy fog is in the forecast, along with a chance of storms in the evening.

In our main read, we followed the trail of premium mangoes to learn how they got from Pakistan to the Philadelphia area.

And could “King James” himself really become a Sixer? We built a way to gauge the chances en vivo.

Plus, Philadelphia firefighters blasted a new contract that leaves them behind police on pay, and more news of the day.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Juicy secret

Consider the mango out of the bag.

🥭 Pakistani mangoes, approved for import in 2010, are hard to come by in the U.S. due to high transport costs, customs restrictions, and their short shelf life.

🥭 But a network of dealers across the country makes it possible for people to enjoy the highly coveted fruit. Mango middlemen sell them through WhatsApp groups at a premium.

🥭 A father-son duo of a Delco farmers market talked to The Inquirer about what it took to navigate this high-stakes network, and the satisfaction of acquiring the sweet fruit. “It smells like you’re in Pakistan, that’s how fresh they are,” Musa Khan told food reporter Hira Qureshi.

Read on about the secretive supply chain.

LeBron vibe check

At 41, basketball superstar LeBron James is considering several suitors for his 24th season with the NBA, and insiders are reporting that Philly is among the top destinations.

But is it at all likely for him to join the Sixers? 🤞

Enter the Bron-O-Meter. We built it to keep our finger on the pulse of the latest reporting, analysis, and speculation surrounding the all-time great’s moves.

It’s wholly unscientific, but with the rumor mill working overtime, the tool lets us peep the evolving possibility that he may or may not come to South Broad.

Scope out the current vibes for yourself.

What you should know today

• Philly firefighters and paramedics will receive smaller wage increases than police officers got for the first time in two decades. The head of the union said the new contract is a “middle finger” to the city’s emergency medical personnel.
• An Oregon man was sentenced to 30 years in prison Thursday for fatally stabbing a beloved South Jersey veterinarian at the vet’s Cherry Hill home.
• Police officers in one of Philadelphia’s largest districts frequently failed to activate their body-worn cameras during encounters that department policy required them to record, according to a new audit.
• SEPTA is trading Glenside Regional Rail riders three scheduled daytime trains for new off-peak options, more train cars, and new schedules aimed at preventing delays.
• Bryce Harper declined to comment Thursday on an Inquirer report that FanDuel sent a personalized video of him to a VIP bettor with a gambling addiction.
• A New York-based developer who outbid real estate investor Dean Adler and Philadelphia’s PMC Property Group for control of the huge office complex at Centre Square has decided to walk away from the property.
• In a rare move, Pennsylvania’s two senators have created a joint fundraising committee that would allow them to split money from donors who want to give to both of their campaigns, despite being members of different parities.
• Scrap iron, one of the Philadelphia area’s biggest exports, is plagued by battery fires, junkyard and port operators say.
• The Ben Franklin Bridge will be closed to vehicles for much of Saturday, allowing pedestrians to walk the span’s roadway. Here are the details of the party shutting down the bridge.

Plus: What does it take to get a historical marker in Pennsylvania?

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

This week, we’re resurfacing an explainer from 2024 on how to nominate a person, place, or event to be immortalized on a blue-and-yellow plaque.

More than 320 historical markers line the streets of Philadelphia, and about two dozen new ones join the ranks annually, according to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Here’s what they told us about the process.

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

Will Smith was ready to go home on the night of the July 4 Parkway concert following bad weather. Then, he said he got a call from Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, pleading for a late-night concert. When recounting this on stage, Smith affectionately referred to the mayor by this nickname:

A) “Mrs. Mayor”

B) “Fresh Princess”

C) “Aunty Cherelle”

D) “Cherelle-ton Banks”

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

P.S. Yesterday’s trivia link was wrong. Sorry about that! Here is the correct story (and solution): The Vances added a chicken coop to the vice president’s residence.

What we’re…

🎸 Rocking out to: Concerts in Philly this week, featuring a triumvirate of legends and much more.

🧺 Curious about: Why Philly’s chefs and bartenders are gathering black walnuts this week.

📖 Reading: The real (and more complicated) story on the Delco library that made headlines for a “borrowed book returned after 100 years.”

🩻 Hearing from experts: The reasons behind a perceived prevalence of cancer right now.

🥙 Anticipating: The award-winning Emmett in Kensington is opening a second restaurant — upstairs.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Large physician-owned group

ANDORRA PHOTOCHEMIST

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

Cheers to Jeanne Maier, who solved Thursday’s anagram: The Schmitter. The iconic sandwich is making its triumphant return to Citizens Bank Park for the All-Star game.

Photo of the day

Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend when you get there.

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

Good morning, Philly. Watch out for thunderstorms later today.

We start with an in-depth look at Eagles fan Terry Thompson, who lost $1.5 million on bets he placed with FanDuel. The company gave him VIP treatment — including a video from the Phillies star first baseman.

And, the first week of July is typically one of Philly’s most violent. But this year, the Independence weekend was markedly calmer.

Plus, Temple raises tuition and lays off about 40 employees, and more news of the day.

— Tommy Rowan (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Bryce Harper’s message

As the 2020 NFL season kicked off, Terry Thompson picked up his phone and placed a wager with FanDuel Sportsbook on his favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles.

It was his first time gambling through an app, and he soon started placing microbets. He grew addicted to the effortless, rapid-fire action. Thompson would ultimately wager $18.5 million with FanDuel, earning him VIP status with the company.

That meant exclusive perks, from champagne to Super Bowl tickets, which made him feel important and enticed him to continue gambling. By late November 2024, Thompson had incurred steep losses and resorted to desperate measures to fund his addiction.

Then, one afternoon, he flicked open his phone and received a FanDuel reward that momentarily distracted him from his debts: a personalized video message from Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper.

David Gambacorta’s full report is a must-read.

A less-violent July

The first week of July has typically been one of Philadelphia’s most violent.

In recent years, Independence Day weekends have been marked by bursts of violence that left a dozen dead.

But this year has been different.

It has offered another encouraging sign that the city’s overall dramatic decline in shootings held through one of its toughest tests.

Reporters Ellie Rushing and Jillian Kramer have the full story.

What you should know today

• Temple University approved a budget that includes an average 3.4% tuition hike for both in-state and out-of-state students, and plans for about 40 employee layoffs.
• A Delaware County man was charged after allegedly making threats against Gov. Josh Shapiro, including a pledge to “burn down … [Shapiro’s] mansion with him in it.“
• Pennsylvania officials were threatened with criminal charges if votes by noncitizens are counted in elections — a rarity that is already illegal.
• Prosecutors in Montgomery County have withdrawn criminal charges against longtime Philly sports personality Mike Missanelli after an alleged domestic dispute.
• A state investigation confirmed poor conditions, needless euthanasia, and insufficient spending on facilities at the Montco SPCA. The board was ousted.
• A federal judge decided that Gov. Shapiro can’t be sued by his Abington neighbors over a property dispute. But Shapiro will still have to face his neighbors in federal court as a homeowner.

Quote of the day

Various reports say the 76ers are among NBA superstar LeBron James’ top free-agency destinations. Sports columnist Marcus Hayes, however, doesn’t see it happening. “I think it’s likely,” Hayes writes, “that LeBron’s representatives are using this (feigned) interest as leverage to land the King elsewhere.”

🧠 Trivia time

The Vances built this unusual addition to the vice president’s residence.

A) Ballroom

B) Reflecting pool

C) Helipad

D) Chicken coop

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🏋️ Applauding. Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali was spotted jumping rope behind the scenes of the HBO show “Task,” which is filming in Manayunk.

📺 Gloating. Speaking of Philly shows, both “Abbott Elementary” and season 1 of “Task” were nominated for Emmy Awards.

🍗 Eating. Fast-food outlet Jollibee introduced chicken nuggets for the first time in nearly 50 years. The Filipino-rooted chain’s lone Philadelphia-area restaurant is at Cottman and Bustleton Avenues in Great Northeast Plaza.

🎨 Admiring. An artist-led exhibition program transformed spaces in Suburban Station into a graffiti haven.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This iconic sandwich is making its triumphant return to Citizens Bank Park for the All-Star game.

CHET MET SHIRT

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

Cheers to Jim Diamond, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Star Wars. The film turns 50 next year, and the Franklin Institute is partnering with Lucasfilm on a new, interactive exhibit.

Photo of the day

And we end on this lovely birds eye view of the MLB All-Star Game logo, which was painted in the centerfield grass at Citizens Bank Park. Baseball’s midsummer classic, which returns to Philly for the first time since 1996, will be the center of the baseball world for nearly a week. Here’s what you can expect.

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

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Welcome to Wednesday. It should be a mostly sunny day with a high near 83.

Our main read analyzes new city assessments that show increases in several changing neighborhoods, with Kensington leading the increase in property values.

And the last Philly-area Rite Aids shuttered for good nearly a year ago. We looked into how their sites have been repurposed.

Plus, a new flight route fills the void at PHL left by Spirit Airlines, and more news of the day.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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The cost of change

Low-income neighborhoods near gentrifying areas saw the sharpest jumps in property values compared with the rest of the city, according to an Inquirer analysis of new assessment data.

And as Philadelphia ramps up efforts to address long-standing problems in Kensington, valuations there have climbed faster than in any other neighborhood.

Steepest increase: The median assessment of single-family residential properties in Kensington rose by 15% from the 2025 to 2027 tax years. Citywide, there was a 3% increase.

What the data show: It’s a further sign that market pressures in higher-income areas are pushing into pockets of the city that have long been primarily home to Black and brown working-class residents.

Notable quote: “I’m going to do whatever I have to do to make sure that residents who have lived in that community can stay there, can raise their families there,” said City Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, a Democrat who represents the 7th Council District, which includes parts of Kensington.

Inquirer reporters Anna Orso, Yueyang Tang, and Lizzie Mulvey dive into the data and explain how a popular city tax break plays a role.

Also: The housing market in the Philly area is “weird” right now, agents say. Here’s why.

Reborn from Rite Aids

After years of turbulent finances, the pharmacy chain called it quits, but its presence still lingers across the Philly region.

While a few defunct Rite Aids are empty and overgrown, other buildings are getting new life as daycares, dollar stores, and other facilities.

Here are a few examples of what now fills — or what could become of — the vacant spaces:

🏈 In Center City, a sports retailer opened its first location in the heart of Philadelphia.

🏋️‍♂️ In South Jersey, some sites are becoming fitness centers.

🧼 In Delco, one could become a township’s first (and only) car wash.

Consumer reporter Erin McCarthy takes us inside former Rite Aids to see how they have found new commerce.

What you should know today

• Peco and its workers union reached a tentative agreement on a new contract Monday, ending the first strike in the company’s history on its third day.
• State and local health officials are tracking cases of an illness caused by an intestinal parasite.
• Philadelphia police released surveillance images of the white SUV suspected in a fatal hit-and-run crash on Kelly Drive last month that killed a Temple University student.
• Philadelphia so far has confirmed seven heat-related deaths in the last week, bringing the seasonal total to eight, according to the city medical examiner’s office.
• Cybercriminals stole the private information of more than 50,000 clients from a Philadelphia-based law firm, according to two lawsuits.
• Philadelphia drivers can now fill up their tanks with less-expensive gasoline promoted by President Donald Trump’s administration, but details on the entire enterprise remain scarce.
• Frontier Airlines has begun new nonstop daily service between Philadelphia International Airport and Detroit, taking over a route formerly operated by discount carrier Spirit Airlines.
• Point Breeze’s Keith Haring mural is being proposed to be added to Philadelphia’s Register of Historic Places. Some are wary of the precedent the designation would set.

Quote of the day

We can thank Afro Sheen founder George E. Johnson for “The Sound of Philadelphia,” columnist Elizabeth Wellington wrote last spring. The haircare pioneer died on Monday.

🧠 Trivia time

Bryce Harper loves putting Philly on his feet, and his latest cleats from Under Armour are no exception.

What do they pay tribute to?

A) Rocky

B) Cheesesteaks

C) SEPTA

D) Pretzels

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re …

☕ Noting: New and forthcoming businesses in Ardmore.

🍦 Curious to try: A new Graduate Hospital ice cream shop that’s all about big flavors and little wins.

🏫 Featuring: The educator helping to guide Philly families and staff through the district’s plan to close and modernize schools.

🍅 Learning about: South Jersey farmers’ creative efforts to bounce back from a destructive spring freeze.

🎤 Wondering: Will the city be refunded for Christina Aguilera’s canceled July Fourth concert set? The mayor’s office isn’t saying.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: In a galaxy far, far away …

RAW TSARS

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

Cheers to Bob Allmond, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Scott Franzke. Nick Piccone built a social media following for posting clips of the sportscaster’s radio calls during Phils games. His hustle gives a radio broadcast new life.

Photo of the day

One viewpoint to go: The USMNT’s 4-1 loss to Belgium on Monday night was “cosmic payback” and an embarrassing end to the World Cup for the home country, writes sports columnist Mike Sielski.

👋🏽 That’s it for now. Thanks for starting your day with us.

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

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

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

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

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘He is not pushing for us’

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

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

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

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

The Inquirer’s Anna Orso has more information.

🥐 A brunch renaissance in Philly

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) Moses Malone

B) Dana Barros

C) Allen Iverson

D) Hal Greer

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

What we’re…

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

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

ETC FRATS ZONK

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

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

Photo of the day

👋 Have a great day, folks! Stay dry.

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

Good morning, Philly! Welcome to the start of a new week.

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

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

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

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘I’m on this roller coaster’

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

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

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

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

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

There’s a new sheriff in town

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

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

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

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

Vinny Vella has more on Kamara’s inspiring story.

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) Taylor Swift + Travis Kelce

B) Zendaya + Tom Holland

C) Rihanna + A$AP Rocky

D) Kylie Jenner + Timothée Chalamet

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: One of the Founding Fathers of the United States

INN LANK BENJI FARM

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

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

Photo of the day

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

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

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

This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Gerard Letterie, who describes pretzels and politics:

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

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

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

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

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

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

👋 Talk to you later, Philly!

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Good morning and happy Friday, Philly.

Today’s high temps could break records, and nightfall may not bring much relief. Experts tell us why warmer nights can be more dangerous than daytime heat.

On the eve of America’s 250th, we’re flashing back five decades for a look at how Philadelphia celebrated the Bicentennial.

And to the surprise of some Fairmount residents, this year’s fireworks display will start around midnight. They aren’t happy about it.

Plus, a federal judge ruled that Philly can’t force ICE agents to unmask, and more news to know to kick off your holiday weekend.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Falling short

The hype was real for the Bicentennial in Philly.

With 20 million visitors projected to travel to the city, there were big dreams for projects to mark the major occasion, like a massive suspended platform at 30th Street Station and a flower-focused theme park in Fairmount Park.

Instead, the birthplace of American democracy hosted an under-attended party, and was then caught in the grips of a disease outbreak.

It’s an understatement to say reality did not live up expectations of a Bicentennial boom, but it wasn’t a complete bust. In some ways, the nation’s 200th birthday gave us some of the Philadelphia we know today.

For more on the lasting legacy, dive into the Inquirer archives with Nick Vadala.

Parkway after dark

Those who live near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway are used to the sparks and blasts for July Fourth, but some aren’t particularly thrilled about their late start this year.

🎆 Fireworks will begin closer to midnight. The star-studded lineup for the One City: Unity Concert for America is bigger this year, so the show will also start earlier and end later.

🎆 The noise is not the problem. Some residents told The Inquirer the nuisance is the events’ timing competing with youngsters’ bedtimes, referring to the move as “not a family-friendly decision.”

🎆 Traffic will be a headache, too. With 300,000 people expected, there are concerns about how the city is handling traffic leaving the Parkway.

Henry Savage has the full story.

Plus: Brush up on road closures and transportation info before heading to the Parkway.

What you should know today

• The President’s House is fair game for the Trump administration following an appeals court ruling that cleared the way for the National Park Service to install a new exhibit.
• A teenager who police say killed a Penn State student from South Philly was captured in Colorado Thursday and will be charged with murder. A second teen suspect also surrendered to authorities.
• Philadelphia can’t prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other federal officers from concealing their identities, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
• Police identified a man who they say shot and killed two men and injured a third near the Hunting Park Recreation Center. Investigators believe the crimes are linked.
• Delaware County is investigating a hack of its network systems. The scale of the breach remains unclear.
• Thirty-one people were arrested for trafficking fentanyl and other illegal drugs inside the Camden County Jail.
• Philly-based restaurateur Stephen Starr settled with the National Labor Relations Board over union-busting allegations at his D.C. steakhouse.
• Several new stores are coming to the King of Prussia Mall in the coming months.
• The University of Valley Forge has been given a serious warning that it is in danger of losing its accreditation.

Plus: How does SEPTA’s bus numbering system work?

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

This week, we have an explainer from Michelle Myers on the logic behind SEPTA’s bus route numbers.

The transit system operates more than 120 routes, but its numbers don’t necessarily indicate where they go or what streets they operate on. It turns out the digits are a relic from the streetcar era. 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 local ceramicist, whose dishware can be seen at restaurants ranging from Provenance to Zahav, is rebuilding following bankruptcy and a kiln disaster. What are they called?

A) Le Creuset

B) Fiesta

C) Felt and Fat

D) East Fork

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

What we’re …

🥵 Avoiding: Exhaustion and dehydration in the heat, and at Philly’s last World Cup game.

🚂 Excited to see: Big Boy, the world’s largest steam locomotive, as it passes through Philly.

🏛️ Shocked by: Lawmakers almost demolished Independence Hall in the 1800s.

📺 Looking out for: Task will start filming its second season next week in Manayunk.

🌱 Learning: Soil from Revolutionary battlefields was mixed at Independence Hall on this week in Philly history.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A destination for Main Line musicians

ANY DASHING SPROUT

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

Cheers to Tanya O’Neill, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Christina Aguilera. This singer has been recruiting Philly-area “soldiers” for her concert on the Fourth of July.

Photo of the day

🔔 One more Semiquincentennial thing: Members of Congress gathered in Philadelphia Thursday to commemorate the vote for independence 250 years ago. Their speeches reflected on historical struggles and present-day tensions.

👋🏽 This newsletter is taking a break in observance of the Fourth of July. We’ll be back on Monday. Until then, you can find all the latest news and our holiday weekend coverage at Inquirer.com. Take care!

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Happy John Adams Day, Philly. And buckle up: It’s going to be hotter than Satan’s left sock.

This holiday weekend, tourists are coming from far and wide to visit the city and to tour Independence National Historical Park. But at the embattled President’s House Site tourists will not be seeing the complete version of history. So we asked them what they thought.

And heading into this historically hot weekend, we looked at mid-summer temperature changes throughout the years and learned that July in Philly has become 4.4 degrees hotter since 1940 on average.

Plus, we missed a link to the top story in yesterday’s newsletter about how different this year’s July Fourth celebration will look — and how much more it will cost taxpayers. You can read that story here.

— Tommy Rowan (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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An incomplete version of history

An influx of tourists visiting Philadelphia in the lead-up to the city’s Semiquincentennial festivities find themselves confronted with large gaps of brick wall at the President’s House site, where exhibits about slavery were removed by order of President Donald Trump.

The gaps are evidence of the partisan battle playing out over how to tell the complicated story of America’s founding.

Ahead of the 250th, both Philadelphians who have been engaged in the fight to protect historical exhibits, and tourists who have wandered through the President’s House for the first time, have lamented the Trump administration’s changes to the exhibit, which was largely dismantled by the administration earlier this year.

Tourists told The Inquirer that the missing panels, such as those that discuss the brutality of slavery, do a significant disservice to understanding the full picture — even the ugly parts — of U.S. history.

Read the full story from reporters Fallon Roth and Andrea Padilla.

July in Philly is much warmer

Over the past 85 years, the average July temperature in Philadelphia has risen 4.4 degrees, according to an analysis of historical weather data.

Philadelphians sweated through Julys in the 1940s, brooding over World War II as temperatures averaged in the mid-to-upper 70s, including nighttime lows.

But today, we swelter under average July temperatures of around 80 degrees — and those nighttimes have become warmer.

Reporter Frank Kummer has the full story.

What you should know today

• Last summer, police scoured the basement of the crumbling Olney house at the center of a sprawling investigation into the disappearance of at least two women. But last year, drugs — not missing women — were their focus, despite pleas from concerned relatives.
• Mayor Cherelle L. Parker defended the city’s decision to go ahead with its upcoming seven-hour outdoor July Fourth concert amid concerns over the nearly 100-degree forecast and revelations that the event will cost taxpayers millions more than in years past.
• Peco and its workers union, IBEW Local 614, resumed bargaining for a new contract Wednesday morning, with three days to go before a strike deadline.
• Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro will attend 250th celebrations across Philly in the coming days, and he said he plans to share his optimism for America’s future amid deep concerns that President Donald Trump has led the nation astray from its founders’ design.
• Bucks County approved its first paid parental leave policy. Full-time employees with at least one year of service will now be able to take up to eight weeks of consecutive leave.
• A developer has plans to turn a church at South 42nd and Pine Streets into 35 apartments, some with affordable rents.
• The 76ers have entered the summer of blockbuster trades, agreeing to acquire All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-round draft picks.

Quote of the day

In 1978, a professional soccer team launched in Philly with rock star owners.

Peter Frampton, Paul Simon, and Rick Wakeman of Yes — and rock executives like Rolling Stones manager Peter Rudge and music agent Frank Barsalona — had stakes in the Philadelphia Fury of the North American Soccer League.

But the Fury couldn’t make soccer happen in Philly until the Union arrived in 2010. Reporter Matt Breen has the full story.

🧠 Trivia time

This Founding Father believed in Philadelphia’s prosperity and insisted that the Federal Bank be headquartered in the city.

A) Benjamin Franklin

B) James Madison

C) John Jay

D) Alexander Hamilton

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🍽️ Noting. We knew that a list of 76 iconic Philadelphia foods would leave something out. After hearing from readers — and revisiting a few of our own debates — we had to mention six items that deserve a place in the city’s culinary canon.

🍸 Drinking. The water ice martini, garnished with a pretzel stick, has the energy of a South Philly summer distilled into a cocktail.

🎡 Considering. Columnist Jenice Armstrong traveled to Washington, D.C., to check out President Trump’s “America’s Great State Fair.” She left underwhelmed.

🏀 Waving goodbye to. Kelly Oubre is leaving the 76ers. He reportedly agreed to a two-year, $17 million deal with the Indiana Pacers.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This singer has been recruiting Philly area “soldiers” for her concert on the Fourth of July.

ACTS AIRING HAULIER

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

Cheers to Rich and Lucie Lipko, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Barrington. A Tennessee-based packaging company is closing its plant in the Camden County borough.

Photo of the day

Philly’s city-recognized hoagie holiday — yes, Philly really has one — returned to Independence Mall on Wednesday, bringing 30,000 six-inch Wawa turkey Shortis to hungry — and overheated — residents.

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

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