Marynelle Milanese didn’t pick up when Pancheros Mexican Grill called her this month. She thought a message crowning her the nation’s first “Queso Queen” was surely a scam.
But when the Mexican fast-food chain followed her on Instagram, the Voorhees resident realized it was true: Milanese, 33, is the first woman dubbed queso royalty. Her family, which runs Milanese Brothers Pizza in Stratford, couldn’t believe it either.
“We all still just can’t get over it, that this is even a thing,” Milanese said.
Pancheros honors its rewards member who buys the most queso in a given year on Sept. 20, National Queso Day, with a trophy, a personal party at the chain, and a prize box — featuring merch, a helping of burrito coupons, and a signed poster of retired WWE wrestler Big E, who has a partnership with the brand.
She also gets free queso for a year.
Pancheros debuted the award in 2019, and Milanese is the second New Jerseyan to win it. She bought queso 235 times since last September and has visited the chain 434 times over the past six years.
The trophy, which calls Milanese the “Queso Cup Champion,” currently sits on her entertainment center at home, five minutes down the road from her local Pancheros in Voorhees, Camden County. Milanese started eating at the chain 12 years ago, when her husband’s family introduced her to “Panch” and gave her a lifetime love of the burrito bowl, which she orders with cilantro rice, pinto beans, extra steak, queso (of course), and sauteed veggies.
More than 200 queso orders might look like a lot in a year, but Milanese has a reason for buying so much.
Debbie Milanese, 63, is somewhat of a queso queen herself. Milanese’s mother-in-law, who lives with Milanese and her husband, can’t stomach most foods due to various health conditions.
“Not everything sits right with her,” Milanese said. “But Pancheros always does.”
Milanese orders queso for the both of them, and they split it, since it’s something her mother-in-law can enjoy. Plus, it gives the pair something to do.
“It has always brought us together,” she said.
With Debbie’s birthday coming up in November, Milanese said she hopes to turn the 20-person Pancheros party, a perk of her queso win, into a family get-together.
Pancheros has about 70 locations across 12 states, including 10 in New Jersey and three in Pennsylvania. The chain has more than a million rewards members.
Last year, Josh Davis of Iowa won the Queso King trophy for the third time with 326 queso orders, less than he ordered in 2023 and 2021 for his previous queso victories.
In 2022, a resident of Bedminster, Somerset County, became Pancheros’ first New Jersey Queso King with 230 orders.
Jahaad Atkinson, 9, and Ah’Yir Womack, 12, were walking on the railroad tracks and hit by a southbound Acela train. Amtrak operators knew people had been on the tracks at least 20 minutes prior, but the Acela proceeded as scheduled, according to the legal malpractice complaint.
That information shows Amtrak acted “wantonly and recklessly,” the suit says, but the attorneys who initially represented the mothers failed to include it in their case until it was too late.
Emeka Igwe (second from left) discusses the lawsuit he filed on behalf of Siani Gordon (third from right) and Wydeia Kimble (fourth from right). The two mothers both lost their sons when they were struck and killed by an Amtrak train in Chester in April.Vinny Vella / Staff
Atkinson’s mother, Siani Gordon, and Womack’s mother, Wydeia Kimble, say lawyers Emeka Igwe and Daniel Purtell, as well as their respective firms and colleagues, were professionally negligent when pursuing their case against Amtrak.
“This was an avoidable result,” says the suit, which was filed last month in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia. “Defendants failed to present necessary evidence in their possession to pursue valid legal theories that would have led to a successful recovery.”
Aaron Freiwald, the mothers’ current attorney, declined to comment.
Igwe said in a statement he disagreed “in the strongest terms possible” with the notion he did not represent his clients “competently and diligently.”
“The case is in active litigation and we are unable to substantively comment outside of the fact that we continue to support our former clients’ best interests,” Purtell said in a statement.
The wrong theory
Atkinson loved to play Roblox, the color red, and dressing up as Spider-Man to get his siblings to laugh. Womack had an infectious smile, a similar proclivity for a funny bit, and couldn’t dance to save his life.
Atkinson, Womack, and other children passed through a hole in the fencing and walked along the tracks of Amtrak’s ultra-busy Northeast Corridor. It was a popular route for neighborhood children.
“Amtrak knew this was a danger, which is why they erected this fence in the first place,” Igwe said in August 2023.
Jahaad Atkinson, 9, and Ah’Yir Womack, 12, used this hole in a fence to climb onto the Amtrak tracks in Chester, according to their families’ attorney.Courtesy Emeka Igwe
Amtrak argued Pennsylvania law does not require railroads to erect or maintain fencing around tracks. And because the boys were trespassing, Amtrak cannot be held liable for injuries caused by negligence, the rail company asserted.
Roughly two weeks later, Igwe filed an updated complaint that argued the tracks heading to the collision area were straight and provided “unrestricted visibility,” so the train operators “should have observed” the children.
In March 2025, Igwe was deployed to Kuwait as part of his service as an attorney with the Delaware National Guard. He turned the case over to Purtell and his firm.
The McEldrew Purtell attorneys blamed Igwe for deficiencies in the case, according to the malpractice lawsuit.
Igwe did not follow up on deposition requests, the attorneys said in one court filing. In another, they attributed the case’s “general malaise” in part to Igwe’s “lack of diligence.”
Locator map of the site where two children were fatally struck by an Amtrak train while on the tracks in Chester.John Duchneskie
The malpractice suit also claims Igwe and Purtell declined an offer by the railroad to mediate, without informing the mothers.
In a May 2025 hearing, U.S. District Judge Mary K. Costello asked a McEldrew Purtell attorney directly: “Is there willful and wanton conduct?”
“On this record, no,” theattorney said, according to a recording of the hearing.
“I think that kind of seals it up,” Costello responded.
Family of Jahaad Atkinson and Ahyir Womack gather for a vigil for the two boys at Martin Luther King Park in Chester, Pa. on Friday, May 5, 2023. The boys, who were 9 and 12-years-old, were killed after being struck by an Amtrak train.Heather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Doomed case or legal malpractice?
But according to the legal malpractice complaint, the attorneys did have evidence to allege willful or wanton conduct by Amtrak: the Amtrak Police incident report, which notes over-the-radio discussions of someone on the tracks.
McEldrew Purtell neglected to raise that “vital record” at the hearing, the malpractice suit says, and the firm’s lawyersfiled a separate lawsuit in April 2025, which relied on the Amtrak Police investigation findings.
Igwe has asked a Philadelphia judge to dismiss the malpractice lawsuit.
The dismissal happened because of Pennsylvania law and the facts of the case, Igwe said in a statement, not any issue with the representation.
“No amount of additional discovery could have altered the Court’s determination that a railroad has no duty to fence its property, that moving trains are not hidden dangers to children, and that longitudinal walkers along tracks are not licensees,” Igwe said.
The Hiway Theater in Jenkintown.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
The Jenkintown zoning board denied the first request for a short-term rental in the borough last week after neighbors voiced concerns about safety and noise.
The couple behind the request has been hosting via Airbnb for almost a year, accommodating visitors such as medical students and World Cup travelers. In spring 2025, an update to borough code green-lit property owners to operate short-term rentals if they get permission from the zoning board, which meets once per year.
Meanwhile, it appears that some other Jenkintown Airbnbs have been live for years before it was strictly legal.
If you’ve ever wanted to teleport back in time to revel in the Gilded Age, now’s your chance.
Elkins Park’s historical Lynnewood Hall, the second-largest surviving U.S. mansion from that time period, has opened its doors to the public for the first time in 84 years for a floral exhibition that pays homage to hit HBO series The Gilded Age.
“Fleurs de Villes: The Gilded Age” runs through Sunday and features life-size floral mannequins crafted by local designers depicting scenes and characters from the popular show.
In a federal lawsuit, a whistleblower is accusing Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration of bypassing requirements designed to safeguard taxpayer dollars when making eight-figure security updates to the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg and an additional $1 million in upgrades and landscaping to his Abington home.
The CEO of Redeemer Health, a Montgomery County nonprofit health system that has posted financial losses annually since 2017, has resigned. Among the organization’s recent struggles is a proposed 239-bed hospital in Abington Township that never came to fruition.
High-friction surface treatment will cause a moving lane closure on Church Road between Route 73 and Washington Lane in Cheltenham Township through Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
🗺️ Other nearby news
Montgomery County officials are taking aim at apps peddling cash advances as part of a new consumer protection effort they say is particularly important as companies take advantage of Pennsylvanians impacted by widespread economic uncertainty.
A single “severe” bullying incident is grounds to trigger a formal investigation, officials said at Cheltenham School District’s policy committee meeting on Sept. 22, clarifying language that previously called for a recurring pattern to exist. Additionally, policy regarding cyberbullying now applies to incidents outside school hours, including over the weekend.
Officials at the meeting also discussed new social media and digital literacy curriculum, which addresses the impact of screen time and dangers of using the platforms. School librarians could help support teaching these subjects, they suggested.
Overlook Elementary is commemorating its centennial anniversary with a free community day with music, food, and games on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
🍽️ On our plate
Sorrentino Pasta & Provisions, located in nearby Ambler, is moving into the wholesale space after the eatery shuttered over the summer, The Inquirer’s Michael Klein reports.
🌺 Fleurs de Villes: Be among the first to visit this historic Elkins Park estate in more than 80 years and get a peek at floral displays inspired by popular HBO series The Gilded Age. ⏰ Daily through Sunday, Oct. 4 💵 Free for children 3 and under, $30.50 for adults; various times 📍 Lynnewood Hall
🎞️ Family Movie Night: Mark the start of spooky season with an outdoor screening of Halloweentown, which kicks off this year’s Abington Fest lineup. ⏰ Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Roychester Park
🎥 Fall Movie Night: Snack on free popcorn during this family-friendly showing of 2026 animated comedy Goat. ⏰ Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Weldon Park, Glenside
🍂 AbingtonFall Festival: Don your best costume and check out live music, food trucks, and kid’s activities including a bounce house and “trunk or treat.” This event is also part of the Abington Fest calendar. ⏰ Saturday, Oct. 3, noon-3 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Crestmont Park
🍁 Elkins ParkFall Festival: Keep the seasonal vibes going all day with snacks and activities organized by the Business District. ⏰ Saturday, Oct. 3, 3-6 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 7900 High School Rd.
Built in 1912, this Arts and Craft-style house features a more than 30-foot-long front porch, exposed woodwork, and an eat-in breakfast counter. The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, located within walking distance of the Jenkintown-Wyncote Regional Rail stop, also features a detached one-car garage and a backyard with a deck.
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This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
With recent victories by democratic socialists nationwide prompting a fierce debate about the future of the Democratic Party, most Democrats in Pennsylvania have a positive view of socialism — and nearly 40% consider themselves to be a democratic socialist, a new poll found.
About one-third of likely voters in the midterm elections this fall have a favorable view of socialism and 56% have an unfavorable view. That result closely mirrors a recent national poll from the New York Times and Siena University, raising questions about the appeal of socialism to a wider swath of voters.
“We’re more popular than ever,” said Dan Parker, cochair of Philadelphia’s chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). “But we still have a long way to go.”
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The survey of 615 likely Pennsylvania voters conducted from Sept. 15 through 21 comes amid a surge of leftist victories both locally and across the country.
State Rep. Chris Rabb defeated a pair of more moderate candidates in Philadelphia’s highly competitive congressional primary in May. A democratic socialist, Rabb is highly favored to win in the general election and has spent the months since his primary campaigning for other like-minded candidates.
Nearly all of those candidates — from Abdul El-Sayed in the high-stakes Michigan U.S. Senate race to a pair of New York candidates boosted by Mayor Zohran Mamdani — have also won their primaries as Rabb and his allies look to grow the ranks of progressives starting on Capitol Hill in January.
“The mainstream Democratic establishment candidates are telling us time and time again to settle for less, to expect nothing other than the status quo,” Parker said. “People are looking for a different set of politics that speaks to their material needs and to the values of freedom that many are striving for.”
Parker said Philadelphia DSA has been “exploding” since Rabb’s victory. The group mobilized hundreds of volunteers to knock between 75,000 and 100,000 doors during his campaign, and more than 750 new members have joined since May to put the chapter’s total ranks at about 3,000, he said.
Councilmember Kendra Brooks speaks with colleague Nicolas O’Rourke during a March 12 caucus session. Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer
Rabb’s success follow that of Pittsburgh’s U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, who was first elected to Congress with DSA support in 2022. Other DSA-backed elected officials include Philadelphia City Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke, as well as State Sen. Nikil Saval, while new primary victories this year include Mark Pinsley and Ce-Ce Gerlach in Lehigh Valley-based legislative races.
Further growth, Parker said, will come with DSA-backed candidates working in office to “prove that government can exist to serve ordinary people.”
On that agenda: Advocating for universal healthcare, affordable housing, progressive tax policies, defunding and ultimately abolishing ICE, and ending the wars in Iran and Gaza.
“What makes DSA distinct — and democratic socialism as a political movement distinct — is that it’s not really just about who has the right ideas,” Parker said. “It’s about a theory of change that puts the vast majority of society in the driver’s seat.”
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As Democrats look to retake control of Congress and the White House, how much influence that movement will yield remains an open question.
Moderates like Gov. Josh Shapiro, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, have acknowledged the energy on the left while advocating for a more centrist approach. Shapiro said this summer that the progressive candidates were practicing “performative politics” and would need to deliver if elected. He has also said he expects the party to have the most significant “battle over what we believe in” in more than three decades as the next presidential race gets underway.
The latest poll shows the party’s base remains divided in Pennsylvania.
While Democrats in the state remain split in their views of socialism, 38% consider themselves to be a democratic socialist while 57% do not, the poll found. Just over half of Democrats see their party as divided and 45% believe it’s united.
‘A tiny, tiny fraction’
Some observers also cautioned that the number of self-identifying democratic socialists across all of Pennsylvania — a swing state that has largely elected moderates to statewide office — may appear larger than reality. The poll did not define democratic socialism, for one. And progressives have been overrepresented in other polling this year, including in Wisconsin and Michigan, said Lew Irwin, a political science professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
“A lot of people will claim an affiliation when they actually have an affinity,” Irwin said, adding that it’s still become “increasingly mainstream and acceptable inside the Democratic Party” to identify as socialist.
J.J. Balaban, a Philadelphia-based ad maker for more moderate Democrats like U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, pointed to the fact that even with the additional energy on the left, the vast majority of Democrats in Washington next year will not be socialist.
“We’re talking about a tiny, tiny fraction of the Democratic caucus,” he said.
Balaban said that is one of the reasons why Republicans’ campaign messaging may also not be effective as they try to defend their majorities in the November midterm elections. Republicans have branded all kinds of Democrats as socialists — repeatedly denouncing the entire party as far left and “communist” in its agenda.
One of the main characters featured in those attacks has been Hasan Piker, the controversial leftist streamer who campaigned with Rabb and other candidates this year. His visit to Philadelphia in April drew hundreds of young progressives but was condemned by Rabb’s opponents and Jewish groups who consider his views antisemitic.
Online influencer Hasan Piker speaks to attendees at an April 30 fundraiser for State Rep. Chris Rabb’s 2026 congressional campaign at Renata’s Kitchen in West Philadelphia.Erin Blewett / For The Inquirer
Piker’s support of El-Sayed has become a dominant issue in the Michigan race, but the poll of Pennsylvania voters shows he is mostly unknown in the Keystone State.
Among Pennsylvania likely voters, 23% had an unfavorable view of Piker and 6% had a favorable view. Two-thirds said they had not heard of him — and a higher share of Republicans knew him compared to Democrats.
“He is a much greater part of the discourse in the Fox cinematic universe than he is in actual Democratic discourse,” Balaban said.
With polls increasingly showing Democratic momentum this fall, even some conservatives appear to be pushing for Republicans to shift their messaging away from socialism.
Former U.S. Rep. George Santos, a Republican who has reportedly lived at least partially in the Poconos since President Donald Trump commuted his sentence last year, posted a video Thursday in which he criticized a mailer for U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a freshman Republican in a tight reelection campaign. The mailer claims Bresnahan will “stop the socialists” and lists his Democratic challenger, Paige Cognetti, alongside the “socialist dream team” of progressives Mamdani, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ind., Vt.), and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.).
“Please stop sending me this. It’s silly,” Santos said in the video, adding colorful language to say Pennsylvania Republicans should be focusing on the cost of living.
“No more rhetoric!” he added.
Staff writer Joe Yerardi contributed to this article.
With the puck dropping on the NHL season tonight — the Flyers don’t play until tomorrow against Pittsburgh — we asked our Flyers beat writers, Jackie Spiegel and Gabriela Carroll, to pull out their crystal balls to see what’s in store for the Flyers this season. Will the Flyers earn a second consecutive playoff appearance? Will Matvei Michkov bounce back? Can Dan Vladař do it again?Here are our complete 2026-27 predictions for the Flyers and the NHL as a whole.
What will the Flyers’ record be, and will they return to the playoffs?
Jackie Spiegel: 46-27-11. Two more games added to the schedule this year, and the Flyers get three more wins than last year in a tough Metropolitan Division that could be anyone’s to win because, in theory, everyone should be better. Right? While it’s not good for my anxiety and sleep, there’s a good chance it comes down to the wire again, and they sneak in.
Gabriela Carroll: 45-30-9. With two additional games on the schedule, all the point totals will be slightly higher. This is a one-point improvement on the Flyers’ season last year, with two more regulation wins and three fewer overtime losses. But in the Metro Division, this should be enough to make the playoffs.
Will the Flyers go over or under their projected 93.5-point total?
JS: Based on the above record, they will hit 103 points, equal to the point total the last time they went over the century mark in 2011-12.
GC: The record projection would bring the Flyers to 99 points, so over. Half the Metro Division managed over 93.5 points last season, while the New York Islanders got 91 and the Columbus Blue Jackets got 92. If the Flyers are under that 93.5 marker, they should be very worried.
Who will win the Metropolitan Division, and where will the Flyers finish?
JS: The Metro will be tough sledding with teams like the Islanders and New Jersey Devils expected to take steps forward. But nothing is stopping the defending champs, the Carolina Hurricanes, and they’ll be back atop the division. Philly will finish in the same spot as last year, third, but I don’t think Pittsburgh will be the team between them and the Hurricanes.
GC: The Carolina Hurricanes will win the Metro again, and the Flyers will finish third again. The Metro is likely to be the NHL’s weakest division again, but the Devils and Washington Capitals should both make charges.
Who will lead the Flyers in goals and points?
JS: Rinse and repeat on the points leader. Travis Konecny has led the team in scoring in six of the past seven years, and why should he — or I predicting him — stop now? After all, the forward said recently the internal competition is only pushing him more. As for goals, a healthy Tyson Foerster will light it up this season and lead the team.
Flyers winger Travis Konecny has led the team in scoring in six of the past seven seasons.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
GC: Porter Martone will lead the Flyers in goals, and Trevor Zegras will pace the team in points.
How many goals and points will Matvei Michkov tally in 2026-27?
JS: If you look through Michkov’s stats page, he was more of a goal-scoring machine as a young teen. As he’s aged, his true gifts, his vision and creativity with the puck as a distributor, have jumped to the forefront. He’ll hit 25, but it’s his assist numbers that will skyrocket him to a career-high 70 points.
GC: In training camp, it already looks like Michkov has taken a step from last year. He’s lighter on his feet and his playmaking has popped in the preseason. I think he’ll score 20 goals and dish out 50 assists for 70 points.
Porter Martone over/under 55 points?
JS: Over. If you look at his numbers last season, Martone was on pace for 93 points if the 84-game schedule was already implemented. He won’t hit that high of a number as he gets acclimated to the daily grind of an NHL season, but he’ll eclipse his 50 points from college.
GC: Over, but there’ll be an adjustment period for Martone, just like we saw during the playoffs last year. That said, he has a nose for the net and will score plenty of goals, especially if that top power-play unit improves.
JS: He’ll hover right around this number, so can the answer be yes?
GC: I’m picking over. Zegras scored 67 points last year, and was scoring at a point-per-game pace for much of the season, especially if the power play can convert at a slightly higher clip.
Tyson Foerster over/under 30 goals?
JS: Call me optimistic with my overall predictions, but I think this one is the most practical. Foerster will not only reach 30 goals, he’ll surpass that. Last season, had it been 84 games and he stayed healthy, he was on pace for 37. He told The Inquirer he worked on his shot all summer, so why not this season?
GC: Under. Foerster’s shot has massively improved, but is the hot streak from before his injury his real level or just that, a hot streak? I’d bet he levels back just under around 28.
Flyers winger Tyson Foerster has his eyes on his first career 30-goal season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Which Flyer will lead the team in points among the defensemen?
JS: Travis Sanheim led the blueliners last year and Jamie Drysdale is on the first power play, but hear me out: I’m sticking with my prediction from last year and going with Cam York. The Californian seems to have a fire in his belly, a goal of five shots per game, and a renewed sense of finding the offensive game that made him a top American prospect just a few years ago.
GC: Drysdale will ride an improved top power-play unit to put up the highest point total from a Flyers defenseman. He was only a few points shy of Sanheim’s total last year and will fly past it in 2026-27.
What will Dan Vladař’s save percentage be?
JS: Goalie numbers are not just based on what that player does but the whole team, and if the Flyers, now in Year 2 of Tocchet, can be more consistent overall while also removing weak-side goals, there is no doubt Vladař can at least replicate his .906 save percentage from last season.
GC: .899. League-average save percentage declines every year, and Vladař is coming off a career season. It’s likely he’ll regress a bit.
Who will be the Flyers’ MVP?
JS: Goalies should always be the MVPs of a team if they put up even decent numbers, and after years of futility, the Flyers appear to have a solid 1-2 punch in net. With Joseph Woll providing a bit more opportunity for Vladař to have a night off, if the Czech goalie can just replicate his stats, he’ll once again be the squad’s most valuable player.
GC: The Flyers would like for a skater to be their MVP, because that means at least one skater has emerged as a true top-level star. If the team MVP is Michkov or Martone, the Flyers will be in a great place heading toward contention.
Which Flyer will have a breakout season?
JS: Alex Bump. The Minnesotan is a pure sniper, and playing a full season in the NHL — and getting time, at least to start, on the power play — should boost his confidence and show doubters what he can do.
GC: Oliver Bonk. I think he’ll earn an early call-up on defense and establish himself as an NHL regular. He’s a relatively steady defensive player who can get in the play and help the breakout.
What is your boldest Flyers prediction?
JS: The Flyers will find a partner to trade Rasmus Ristolainen (it is the last year of his contract) to call up Oliver Bonk, and the cool, calm, 21-year-old will quickly become a full-time, reliable NHL defenseman next to Sanheim.
GC: The Flyers will make at least one serious addition at this year’s trade deadline. They haven’t been buyers the last several years, but the team might finally be in position to make real gains at the deadline given their cap space and pipeline.
Who will win the Hart Trophy as MVP?
JS: Matthew Tkachuk. A finalist in 2023, Tkachuk is finally healthy and has a little brotherly competition with Brady, now his teammate, to give him some extra incentive.
Macklin Celebrini, 20, finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting last season. Could the MVP be his this season?Darryl Dyck
GC: Macklin Celebrini put himself on the map as one of the NHL’s best in his sophomore season. He’ll follow it up by bringing the Sharks back to the playoffs and win his first of many Hart Trophies.
Will any Flyers win an individual NHL award?
JS: Martone will be a finalist for the Calder Trophy, but a win is not something I can say with certainty. If the Flyers exceed expectations, could Tocchet get his second Jack Adams? That could be one to keep an eye on.
GC: No. Porter Martone will earn a few votes for the Calder and ultimately lose to Ivar Stenberg.
Who will make and win the Stanley Cup?
JS: The Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes will square off in the final with the defending champs lifting Lord Stanley’s Cup again.
GC: Feel like I’ve made this prediction four years running and it hasn’t panned out, but the Dallas Stars will beat Florida and win the Stanley Cup.
What are you looking forward to most in the NHL this season, and why?
JS: Watching Michkov’s vision and improved skating take off. Could he or Zegras score a “Michigan?” Dirty soda in Utah. One last chance to overcome my fear of plummeting to my death by crossing the non-cheat way at the Scotiabank Saddledome catwalk in Calgary, with a new building opening next season. Always the mountain views in Denver and Calgary. Not having to talk about the Flyers’ power play troubles (fingers crossed on that one). Talking to passionate fans and providing content and insight into the team and the beat at The Inquirer, and on X, Instagram, and TikTok.
GC: There are a lot of ways this season could go for the Flyers. These predictions were really tough to decide on! I’m excited to enjoy the uncertainty and be part of the ride.
The three words that have long defined Tyrese Maxey were also the ones that landed LeBron James with the 76ers. They were spoken a little more than six years ago by Rajon Rondo, the longtime NBA point guard who’d starred at the University of Kentucky before embarking on a pro career that saw him win a championship and make four All-Star teams with the Celtics.
This was the summer of 2020, and the world was on hiatus, and Rondo found himself sharing the court with a 19-year-old kid who was about to become the latest in a long line of first-round draft picks from his alma mater. Maxey liked waking up early, and he liked working late, and the kid could ball a little bit. Rondo was impressed enough that he mentioned Maxey to James, his then-teammate on a Lakers team that would go on to win the NBA title once play resumed that summer.
In hindsight, maybe we shouldn’t have been so floored three months ago when James announced that he would be continuing his Hall of Fame career with the Sixers. Those of us who’d witnessed Maxey’s rise over the last seven years were well aware of his irrepressible good nature and earnest commitment to his craft. There may not be a more likable player in all of professional sports, let alone the NBA. It isn’t just his magnetism and work ethic, but also the genuineness with which these traits express themselves. What we didn’t know was the extent to which James, too, valued such things. Turns out, he values them a great deal.
“Our relationship, when I broke a lot of the teams and franchises down I could possibly play for, he was one of the main deciding factors,” James said Monday in his first official public appearance as a Sixer.
Video: LeBron James on how much Tyrese Maxey played a factor in his decision to choose Philly
It’d be easy to interpret that solely as an endorsement of Maxey. But, in a funny way, James’ relationship with Maxey speaks as much to his own character as vice versa. Most of us here in Philadelphia know James only from afar, which means our impressions of him are inevitably shaped more by secondhand narratives than by firsthand witness.
In the weeks leading up to his decision to sign with the Sixers, local airwaves and social-media feeds crackled with skepticism from a contingent of fans who not only doubted James’ intentions but also recoiled at the idea of seeing him in a Sixers uniform. However genuine some of those skeptics were, others were undoubtedly reacting to a heroes-and-villains caricature that develops with all superstars who reach a certain stature. James’ relationship with Maxey doesn’t necessarily square with that caricature.
“He’s worked for everything he’s gotten,” Maxey said. “He was put on a pedestal where a lot of guys don’t succeed. And he probably surpassed expectations. For myself, I kind of had the opposite start of my career. I was put on a different pedestal, and I felt like I had to work my way up to where I am.
“But still, at the end of the day, both of us had to work to get to where we were. I believe in the work, he believes in the work. Like I’ve been saying for years, we’ve got to get one percent better [every day], and not just on the court, but as a group, the camaraderie. It’s gonna be new. It’s gonna be different … But it’s gonna be good.”
The most striking thing about James’ first news conference as a Sixer was both his maturity and the way in which it echoed Maxey’s.
“You got to try to stay even-keeled, understand that the noise is gonna be noise, what happens outside of this building is gonna consistently happen, and it’s going to be doubled and tripled and quadrupled now that I’m here,” James said. “And it just comes with the territory, I understand it. So the work that we put in in this building, the work that we put in when we’re on the road, watching film, the work that we put in, will take care of itself. …
“Guys will hold each other accountable. We put the work in, we have honest conversations, things of that nature. So, you know, just staying even-keeled and everything that’s going on out there does not matter. It does not matter at all, it’s about the results and the things that happen in this building for us. And if we do that, we’re a really talented team, but the talent will only get you so far.
“But if you put the work in, and you continue to be better and better every day, and you have this championship approach every day to get one percent better, and then it definitely will work in our favor.”
LeBron James dons a Sixers jersey for the first time as he speaks to reporters on Monday in Camden, N.J.Gabriela Carroll /
Whatever your preconceived notions about LeBron, he is clearly an athlete who treats his craft with the utmost sincerity. As Maxey said, plenty of athletes have begun their careers on pedestals similar to the one James occupied as a generational schoolboy star at Akron’s St. Vincent-St. Mary and the eventual No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. The dividing line between the greats and the coulda-been-greats is more often than not an internal will that manifests itself in both work ethic and competitive drive. Both are evident in the words James speaks and the manner in which he speaks them. One suspects his new teammates will have no choice but to listen.
Maxey wasn’t blessed with the same raw physical gifts as James. He had the misfortune of entering college the year the world shut down, which limited his exposure and precipitated his fall to the Sixers at No. 21. But there is clearly something kindred between the two players. Listening to them talk, seeing them side-by-side wearing the same uniform, it suddenly seemed obvious why James ended up with the Sixers. That says something about Maxey. It says more about James.
Michael Beirao, the athletic director for Cherry Hill Public Schools, manages about 1,800 athletic events each academic year — with about $130,000 to pay referees for all of them.
The cost of hiring a ref has increased, while the number of officials participating has declined.
In Cherry Hill, Beirao oversees two large high schools, East and West, which have 63 varsity teams, plus another 60 or so junior varsity and freshman groups. The middle schools — Beck, Rosa, and Carusi — each offer 17 sports programs.
His $130,000 — with $100,000 for the high school level and $30,000 for middle school — for officials is considered “a large budget,” Beirao noted.
The change of officiating classification could be slow and gradual. However, it could mean eventual higher property taxes and cutting athletic programs from public schools if they can’t afford the cost, say South Jersey athletic directors.
“It would be devastating, because I’ll use Cherry Hill Public Schools as an example; this year we had to cut our budget by $14 million,” Beirao said. “How do you make a decision between keeping a teacher during the day and having an official after school?”
Meanwhile, Beirao noted, school sports programs face competition from clubs and private-equity-owned programs. Requiring schools to hire referees as employees would be an added “burden,” he said.
“It wouldn’t be feasible, and it wouldn’t be a tenable situation,” Beirao said.
Ken Schoudt, athletic director for the Delsea Regional School District, asked an umpire association how much it would charge for an official classified as an employee instead of an independent contractor. The cost tripled.
“For one umpire at the varsity level, is $110. For them to break even and make the same amount of money, they would have to charge us close to $350,” Schoudt said.
But a proposed bill could help. If passed, it would classify all officials as independent contractors under state law.
The New Jersey’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development presumes all workers who make compensation in the state are employees, unless they satisfy all three prongs of the ABC test to be classified as an independent contractor. Some changes to the rule are set to take effect Oct. 1.
New Jersey Sen. Kristin M. Corrado (R-District 40) said the system’s new regulations make it even more difficult to be classified as an independent contractor.
Umpires, referees, and other officials are generally paid on a per-game basis and employed primarily in other occupations and supplement their income by officiating part time, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Most officials work through agencies for each sport. The high school and youth programs go to those agencies for assigning games.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s administration is instructing some agencies to classify their workers as employees. But for “100 years we’ve always been independent contractors,” said John Gallante, president of the New Jersey Umpire Alliance.
The state’s labor department said it’s not targeting sports officials, but “whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor depends on the specific facts of each individual’s working relationship, under New Jersey’s ABC test.”
Michael Beirao is the athletic director for Cherry Hill Public Schools.
New Jersey adopted the ABC test in 1936 under the state’s Unemployment Compensation Law.
Thirty-three states use some version of the ABC test to determine worker classification. In New Jersey, paid workers are presumed to be employees unless they meet all three of the following:
Prong A: individual has been and will continue to be free from control or direction over the performance of services, both under the contract and in fact.
Prong B: the services are either outside the usual course of the employer’s business or are performed outside of all the employer’s places of business.
Prong C:the individual isengaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business.
The test is used to enforce wages, benefits, and labor protections. Misclassification can result in significant financial penalties for employers, according to the NJDOL.
The business must prove it does not exercise control over the worker and has not “reserved the right to control the individual’s performance.”
Work is not outside the usual course of business if it is “integrated into the hiring entity’s business,” even if the work is done off premises.
The worker must have proof of their independent business, that would keep running even if they lost this specific contracted job.
Corrado said thenew regulations put further and narrower definitions on each of the prongs, making it more difficult to be an independent contractor in New Jersey.
“The ABC test itself is not new and neither are the problems that come with it,” Corrado wrote in an email. “These regulations would exacerbate those problems.”
How are amateur officials being impacted?
Gallante, of the New Jersey Umpire Alliance, recalled that two years ago an amateur official incorrectly filed for unemployment.
“The officiating association responded and said they don’t have any employees,” said Gallante, whose organization represents 13 certified baseball and softball officiating associations. “So that claim was denied. But then it prompted an unemployment audit of that association.”
The department determined from its audit that all officials in the association should be classified as employees, Gallante said, and that the association should backpay unemployment dating back to 2020. That “would in essence put them out of business. They would no longer be able to function,” he said.
Gallante added, “the Department of Labor has told us that in ‘fairness,’ they would examine all the other officiating associations in the state as well.”
NJSIAA officials John Lovenduski spots the football while Bruce Carter signals a first down during the Cinnaminson and Cherry Hill West game on Sept. 18.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
The state labor department said it “does not comment on ongoing legal or administrative proceedings.” And labor commissioner Kevin Jarvis said he could not give examples of what differentiates an employer from an independent contractor.
Corrado said the Sherrill administration levied a fine that could put that association out of business, which would impact thousands of youth baseball and softball games.
“Thankfully, the organization is standing strong against the Department of Labor and fighting this determination,” Corradoadded.
An organization with employees must account for payroll, unemployment, disability, workers’ compensation, wage and hour requirements, and other employment laws — all of which comes with a cost.
Corrado emphasized the uncertainty is problematic: “A Little League, travel tournament, high school, or other organization should not need lawyers and accountants to determine whether classifying someone who officiates a few games qualifies as an independent contractor.”
Who is trying to change this?
Corrado introduced bill S4045 in March, along with Sen. Paul A. Sarlo (D-District 36) and Sen. Latham Tiver (R-District 8).
If passed into law, it would specify that amateur sports officials are not employees under state employment laws.
“It would ensure that youth sports officials are able to work when they want, where they want, and how much they want,” Corrado said. “It would also allow youth sports organizations and high schools to continue to pay the officials at the rates they are accustomed to, not needing to worry about the burden of payroll taxes or workers’ compensation insurance.”
NJSIAA official John Lovenduski (front) and the rest of the officiating crew head back to the field after a meeting at halftime during a game between Cinnaminson and Cherry Hill West on Sept. 18.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
The bill is pending in the Senate and Assembly labor committees.
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), which oversees and registers high school sports officials in the state, said in an email to The Inquirer that it is monitoring the issue and has been in conversations with lawmakers and regulators.
“We recognize the potentially significant impact this could have on interscholastic athletics and continue to make sure policymakers understand the critical role officials play,” a spokesperson wrote. “Our position is clear: high school sports officials are independent contractors and should continue to be treated as such.”
It felt like we were trapped in a spiral. The Eagles offense couldn’t generate a spark and the defense couldn’t make a stop Monday night.
Both sides of the ball had sluggish performances that resulted in a 27-7 loss to Chicago and third-string quarterback Case Keenum. Just as they did in their Week 13 victory on Black Friday last year, the Bears outplayed the Eagles.
The Eagles coughed up the ball three times, Jalen Hurts was evaluated for a concussion but returned, and penalties on both sides of the ball were a setback throughout the game.
All the while, the 38-year-old Keenum threw for 247 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns. The Eagles were poor across the board, but Nick Sirianni should shoulder the blame, writes Jeff McLane.
So, how about those Phillies? A 2 p.m. start time isn’t ideal, but playoff baseball is officially back today. The Sixers also held their media day on Monday, where LeBron James donned the uniform for the first time.
Jesús Luzardo will start Game 1 of the Phillies’ wild-card series against the Braves on Tuesday in Atlanta.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Jesús Luzardo will start Game 1 of a best-of-three wild-card series against the Braves. The Phillies initially planned to have Zack Wheeler start, but they needed him Sunday in a must-win regular-season finale.
Now, the Phillies have to get creative — and they’ve been in a similar pitching conundrum before. In 2023, the Phillies opened with Ranger Suárez in Atlanta. The move paid off. They’re hoping the same happens with Luzardo.
In other news, Luis Arraez continues to get positive updates on his sprained left ankle, but he will not be included on the wild-card roster.
What we’re …
👀 Seeing: Nick Sirianni offered some choice words after a late hit on Jalen Hurts. Here’s what you missed from the broadcast.
📺 Watching: Former Villanova guard Jalen Brunson making his first appearance as host of NBC’s Saturday Night Live.
🐱 Learning: Villanova’smascot, Will D. Cat, signed an NIL deal with a popular cat food brand.
👕 Wearing: The Sixers announced their six-uniform rotation — and yes, the Iverson-era black jerseys are back.
aylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey on Sept. 28.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
LeBron James, one of the NBA’s all-time greats and a mainstream international celebrity, spoke publicly for the first time since he chose the Sixers in a stunning free-agency move in July.
And while he acknowledged that the outside noise surrounding the Sixers has doubled now that he’s here, James reemphasized that his goal — in perhaps his last destination in a storied NBA career — is to reach the NBA mountaintop.
Porter Martone’s talent and in-your-face style of play should make him the next beloved Flyers power forward. Could he even help end the franchise’s Cup drought?Staff
Porter Martone came out like gangbusters with the Flyers. After wrapping up a dominant freshman season at Michigan State, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 draft kept the Orange and Black’s playoff dreams alive.
Now his teammates are excited to see what Martone can bring in his first full pro season. The 19-year-old has the potential to be the franchise’s next box-office star.
Football officials John Lovenduski (left) and Bruce Carter walk off the field with Cherry Hill Public Schools Athletic Director Michael Beirao.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
The cost of hiring youth sports officials has increased, while the number of officials participating has declined. In New Jersey, increasingly complex labor laws have created an unforeseen issue: the worker classification of officials in amateur sports.
The change of officiating classification could be slow and gradual. However, classifying officials as independent contractors or employees could lead to higher costs and fewer refs.
Zack Wheeler pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Zack Wheeler helped avert the greatest collapse in Philadelphia sports history, and carried the rest of the franchise-record $330 million payroll with him. After three straight years of dead bats in the playoffs, can they do this postseason what they did Sunday? We don’t know about the hitters. We do know about Wheeler, writes columnist Marcus Hayes.
What you’re saying about Phillies in the postseason
We asked: How far do you think the Phillies can go in the playoffs? Among your responses:
Despite almost being eliminated from NL playoff contention, the Phillies still have plenty of talent in that nearly $292 million roster to make a deep post-season run. The Phillies have both the talent in pitching an offense to compete with any MLB team. They’ll have to start by overcoming a big obstacle — an estimated 36.7% chance of beating an Atlanta Braves team that holds a 9–4 advantage over the Phillies of 9–4 this year. If they don’t — we’ll welcome in October with an Eagles winning record and the start of Sixers Training Camp this week. — Michael L.
I’m a lifelong Phillies fan who still supports them to the end even though I’m retired and living in South Carolina. Although the team has the ability to get on a heater and go as far as the end, I’m afraid this time it’s going to stop in Atlanta. The starters can throw several strong innings and the hitters can deliver a few runs but this bullpen has proven there is no lead they are incapable of giving up. I hope I’m wrong but I see teams just waiting to feast once the starters are gassed and taking the fightin Phils down early. — John P.
How far the Phils go will depend on their hitting and bullpen. Starters need to go out least 6 innings, giving up 2 or less runs, bats need to get hot and the bullpen needs to do a job they haven’t been doing most of the season.— Tom G.
Phillies are definitely going to win the whole thing. Or lose two straight to Atlanta. — Dan B.
Well it depends on them. They certainly can beat the Braves, even though the Braves have Chris Sales, and they can beat the Dodgers if their pitching and hitting and fielding is in. The Brewers not so much. Go Phillies!!!!!— Bill M.
Squirrels things can and do happen in sports. A foot slips, a bad bounce a missed tag. On paper the Phils will lose. As long as they do not surrender the game to the bullpen they have a good chance to get past the Braves and even the Dodgers. — Nick S.
Right now not concerned with how far the Phillies can go, but concentrating on the herculean task of winning two out of three in Atlanta where the Phils were 1-4 this season and 4-9 overall against the division champ Braves who finished 6 games ahead of our guys. — Everett S.
They are a flawed team with many weak spots but I’ve been around long enough to know that if you catch a tiger by the tail anything can happen. That being said I doubt they will get past Atlanta as they are far too inconsistent. The bats and the bullpen will eventually let them down. Potential is a very nebulous term that is thrown around when evaluating this group. They are paid well to produce but the actual results show a different story. Other than a few starting pitchers , one member of the bullpen and a home run striker very few ere playing anywhere near their original potential. — Bill B.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Olivia Reiner, Marcus Hayes, Jeff McLane, Jackie Spiegel, Scott Lauber, Lochlahn March, Gina Mizell, Chris Hine, Gabriella Carroll, Isabella DiAmore, Mike Livingston, Maria McIlwain, and Conor Smith.
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.
That’s it for me this week, have a wonderful Tuesday. Maria will be in your inbox tomorrow. — Bella
CHICAGO— The Eagles defense on Monday allowed 375 total yards to a Bears offense led by third-string quarterback Case Keenum, who last started a game 1,009 days ago.
Some of the blame can be placed on the Eagles’ safeties.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had a curious game plan for safeties Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II in the team’s 27-7 loss. It appeared that Epps — who has struggled this season — was benched for Carter on the second drive of the game, but he returned just five plays later. This was the start of a rotation that even left Epps confused after the game.
“I don’t really know,” Epps said when asked about the rotation. “Yeah, I mean, we kind of just go back and forth in practice. However, the coaches want to call it, that’s how they call it. And [we’ll] do whatever the coaches of the team ask us to do.”
In fairness to Fangio, Epps should have seen a demotion coming. The 30-year-old veteran had three missed tackles in Week 2, which prompted questions about his starting status, and then missed two tackles on the opening drive vs. Chicago. Epps spoke about this unprompted on Monday.
Michael Carter (35) was part of a safety rotation with Marcus Epps on Monday night.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
“You just got to tackle better,” Epps said. “We got to work on it in practice. So we got to take it upon ourselves to get better and continue to grow in that aspect.”
It wasn’t just the tackles. The rotation clearly led to communication issues in the defensive backfield, with Keenum, 38, routinely attacking the safeties downfield. On Chicago’s second scoring drive, Keenum connected with Luther Burden III for a 25-yard gain (with safety Andrew Mukuba in coverage), then hit Rome Odunze for a 22-yard gain (with Epps in coverage) one play later.
Epps and Mukuba were also at the center of two Bears touchdowns. Burden dragged a gaggle of Eagles defenders, Epps included, on Chicago’s opening drive touchdown. Mukuba slipped while in coverage late in the third quarter, which led to Kalif Raymond’s 41-yard score.
Keenum’s final stat line: 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns.
“It was an over route,” Mukuba said when asked about Raymond’s touchdown. “I was in a post [coverage] and I got broke whenever the ball was thrown.”
So, what’s the solution? Fangio said last week that he wouldn’t move Cooper DeJean — who starts at safety in place of Epps in base defense — to safety full-time. Perhaps he considers that after a showing like this.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum embrace at the end of the game at Soldier Field on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Chicago, Ill. Chicago won 27-7.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jonathan Greenard leave after the Chicago Bears game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts lies on the ground after getting sacked during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bears game.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts watches the last two minutes of the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Chicago won 27-7.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gets up after getting sacked in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws long on fourth down in the fourth quarter, pass incomplete at Soldier Field on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Chicago, Ill.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon makes a reception in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fan reacts after a penalty is called in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni in the fourth quarter. Chicago won 27-7.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the ball to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jonathan Greenard tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum almost loses possession of the ball in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards after intercepting a pass in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after throwing a third-quarter interception.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond celebrates a touchdown during the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards celebrates an interception in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is wrapped up by Chicago Bears safety Elijah Hicks in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun tackle Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon was tackled by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the ball to Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt goes after Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears fan reacts to the last-minute “tush push” score by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts looks up after scoring on the tush push with one second left to go.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman celebrates an interception in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell stops Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz is defended by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs by Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman in the second quarter, just short of a touchdown.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell breaks up a pass intended for Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift gets stopped by Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (left) and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo (right) in the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerIncomplete pass to Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze in the second quarter, defended by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III scores as the Philadelphia Eagles defense tries to stop him during the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell forces Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III out of bounds in the first quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III celebrates a touchdown during the first quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift runs with the ball against Philadelphia Eagles safety Marcus Epps in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum hands off to Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
If not, he could turn to 31-year-old defensive back Kenny Moore, a nine-year veteran whom the Eagles signed to the practice squad last week. Moore spent nine seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and primarily played nickel cornerback, but he does have safety experience.
One thing is certain: After Monday’s mess, the Eagles have to consider doing something different at safety.
It wasn’t just “Philadelphians” who “reacted with outrage” when news broke that Drexel University and the Academy of Natural Sciences were closing the Academy’s premier natural sciences museum at the end of the month. My family and I in Bucks County are upset, too.
While reading the well-written article by Peter Dobrin about the museum’s collection of artifacts and specimens, my family and I reminisced about our many visits to the museum. We were always amazed by the fascinating specimens we saw there, and our takeaway every time was a further understanding of the living organisms that make up our world.
Now that the museum has hosted visitors for what’s believed to be its final day, my family and I hope the great city of Philadelphia will find a major benefactor who will step up and provide the needed financial backing to keep this great museum’s collection together.
Holly Allen Homka, Perkasie
Silence isn’t bliss
So the sound of silence can actually be very loud — as President Donald Trump has learned firsthand. Because TV networks withheld coverage of him last week to protest the removal of some of their colleagues from the White House press corps, the president’s helicopter landing pad opening was shown but not heard, an oddity in modern news reporting — but it was all of his own doing.
It is tempting to be pleased with reduced coverage of President Trump for many reasons, but any official restrictions on public debate are wrong and must be called out — loudly.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill, Australia
. . .
Many readers have called for a long-term boycott of White House press coverage over the president’s exclusion of some news outlets from the White House. While this is a tempting idea, it would put reporting about the executive branch under the complete control of the administration. That is exactly what a dictator wants, because it prevents us from seeing their response to tough questions posed by the few remaining real journalists. Even lies tell part of the story.
Jacques Gordon,Devon
MAGA reckoning
Will Americans finally wake up to the confusion and chaos that this administration has created both here in America and around the world? An arch is planned to be built that will hold drones, snipers, and ammunition in the middle of Washington, D.C.; why is this necessary? A war started in Iran because our president had a gut feeling we were going to be attacked. The official objective of this war was to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. In June 2025, we were told Iran’s nuclear program was obliterated. Did they rebuild in the eight months before the war, or were we told a lie? Suspected drug traffickers, if they were apprehended and found guilty, would typically receive an average sentence of 87 months in prison, not the death penalty. These are just a few of the things said or done by the Trump administration with the overwhelming support of Republicans in Congress. To Trump supporters: Make America Great Again is not working.
Ken Biles, Douglassville, Pa.
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