Inquirer.com – Zurich DR

Blog

  • 1 in 4 Pa. GOP voters doesn’t know who Stacy Garrity is as Josh Shapiro widens lead in governor’s race

    1 in 4 Pa. GOP voters doesn’t know who Stacy Garrity is as Josh Shapiro widens lead in governor’s race

    One in four likely Pennsylvania GOP voters has not heard of the state’s Republican candidate for governor, as Gov. Josh Shapiro continues to pull ahead with less than six weeks remaining until Election Day, according to a new poll.

    Shapiro, a Democrat seeking reelection and a potential 2028 presidential candidate, is ahead of his Republican challenger, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, by 21 percentage points among likely Pennsylvania voters, according to the poll, conducted by The Inquirer, the New York Times, and Siena University.

    According to the poll, Shapiro’s lead has now expanded beyond the advantage he held the month before the 2022 election against State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin). Shapiro went on to beat Mastriano in that election by nearly 15 percentage points, or 800,000 votes — a drubbing that the GOP vowed not to repeat.

    (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})();

    Pennsylvania Republicans endorsed Garrity in September 2025 — an unprecedented early nod to unify behind her in an effort to put up a stronger fight against Shapiro after the party largely withheld its support for far-right Mastriano. Garrity has won statewide twice and received the most votes in Pennsylvania history for a statewide office, a record previously held by Shapiro. In January, President Donald Trump endorsed Garrity, calling her “an America First Patriot.”

    But building on that early enthusiasm has proven to be a challenge for Garrity, who for months has struggled to raise money, compete with Shapiro’s $60 million war chest, and gain name recognition in the critical battleground state where registered Democratic voters narrowly outnumber Republicans.

    Garrity, 63, who entered politics in 2020 after a long career in the U.S. Army Reserve, raised only $1.8 million this summer and spent $1.5 million, according to her latest campaign finance filing, posted Tuesday. Shapiro raised $13.3 million during that time and spent $31 million.

    Gov. Josh Shapiro addresses the audience during a rally for congressional candidate Bob Brooks at the United Steelworkers Union Hall in Bethlehem, Pa. on Sunday, July 26, 2026.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    And while Shapiro has dramatically increased his advertising spending on TV and streaming services to top $27 million this year, Garrity has spent a total of $744,000 on ads so far, according to media tracking firm AdImpact.

    Both Shapiro and Garrity have released ads attacking each other for their past support for data center development, an increasingly unpopular issue among both Republicans and Democrats. Garrity’s ad criticizing Shapiro has been viewed about 802,000 times in the Philadelphia media market, according to AdImpact. Shapiro’s commercial labeling Garrity as “Pennsylvania’s number one fan of data centers” has been viewed 416 million times.

    (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})();

    “Within the data right now, Josh Shapiro is a favorite son in the state of Pennsylvania, and they see him as doing a fantastic job,” said Don Levy, the director of the Siena Research Institute, which conducted the poll of 615 likely Pennsylvania voters from Sept. 15 to 21. “Barring double lightning bolts or a triple rainbow, he’s going to win.”

    Garrity’s lack of campaign spending has allowed Shapiro to define her in the race, experts have said.

    George Stanton, 77, a registered Republican from Lebanon County who participated in the poll, said he will support Garrity in November. He said Shapiro’s attack ad about Garrity’s past support for data centers, which he said he agrees with, helped him learn more about her positions.

    Voters trust Shapiro more than Garrity on all of the top issues facing them, the poll found, including the state’s economy, the cost of living, data centers and artificial intelligence companies, and vaccine policy. In recent weeks, Shapiro has been embroiled in a battle with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom he has blamed for spreading misinformation as Pennsylvania experienced a deadly measles outbreak. And at a summit in Pittsburgh last week, Shapiro called for more regulation of AI companies but said innovation of the technology should still be harnessed.

    (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})();

    Scott Byers, 79, a Republican from Westmoreland County who supported Trump in 2024, is planning to vote for Shapiro this fall because “he just seems to be more in line with the public, with the feelings of his constituents.”

    That includes Shapiro’s position on AI and data centers, which Byers believes should be more difficult to build. All he knows about Garrity’s views is what he catches on commercials — but it does not feel comprehensive, said Byers, who participated in the poll.

    “I think technology in itself is going a bit beyond what is necessary. I feel that it’s hard to pinpoint, but I just feel that there’s too much emphasis on technology,” Byers said.

    Campaign volunteers hand out signs to supporters of Gov. Josh Shapiro and Democratic Pa. Senate candidate Chris Thomas at a rally in Towamencin, Montgomery County before heading out to canvass on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2026.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Approximately 60% of likely voters strongly approve or somewhat approve of the job Shapiro is doing as governor, according to the poll. That includes 30% of Republican voters, 89% of Democratic voters, and 59% of independents in the critical swing state where Shapiro maintains high popularity.

    As a moderate politician, Shapiro has been able to capture most independent voters and even win over some Republicans, according to the poll.

    Lesa Yeager, 63, considers herself an independent voter with centrist views who voted for a third-party candidate in the 2024 presidential election. She is an ardent union supporter and also thinks the nation should have a strong border. She said she trusts Garrity, as the state’s treasurer, to do a better job handling Pennsylvania’s economy.

    But she is supporting Shapiro this November, in large part, because of his work on schools.

    “I like that he’s very pro-education,” she said. “I am a fan of charter schools because I sent my kids to charter schools.”

    Two of her children, now 35 and 37, benefited from smaller classroom sizes and adjustable curriculums, she said.

    Yeager said she has also reached her limits with Trump’s behavior during his second term and believes Shapiro would continue to represent the state positively.

    “I just think Trump is such a bully and so mean and just does whatever he wants, and I just want someone who isn’t that,” Yeager said.

    She appreciates the Republicans who distance themselves from Trump. “But it’s tough to tell who is and who isn’t, a lot of times, and I would rather vote for someone I know isn’t going to support Trump on a lot of the things that he does,” she added.

    Still, Garrity has found some backing among Pennsylvania’s electorate, though even some of those supporters say they don’t know much about her.

    GOP gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity and her running mate Jason Richey hold up their arms in Harrisburg, Pa., Saturday, February 7, 2026. Kalim A. Bhatti / For The Inquirer

    Susan Roller of Lancaster said she plans to vote for Garrity this fall because “she’s more responsible and will protect our freedoms.” Roller, who is retired, said she is particularly distressed about Shapiro’s positions supporting access to abortion and encouraging vaccines.

    But as far as getting to know more about Garrity, Roller, 72, said she has not “seen a lot” of messaging on television about her.

    Shapiro and Garrity are set to face off in a televised debate on Oct. 7.

    In 2022, Shapiro did not participate in any debates while he maintained a double-digit lead over Mastriano, declining the Republican’s requests as an “unserious stunt.” Shapiro held a 13-percentage-point lead over Mastriano in a New York Times/Siena poll conducted that October — a closer margin than Shapiro’s lead over Garrity this year.

    (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})();

    The 2022 midterm election was a much different political moment for Democrats, said Levy of the Siena Research Institute.

    “That was a point in time when the Democratic star was on the decline,” he added. “Everything was a bit of a referendum on Democrats, on the job that [former President Joe] Biden was doing, how we were coming out of the pandemic.

    “The overall political climate in which the ’26 election is taking place vs. ’22 is really kind of night and day,” Levy said.

    Staff writers Joe Yerardi and Fallon Roth contributed to this article.

  • Rural Health Transformation Fund leaves gaping hole in finances at Pa.’s Geisinger Health

    Rural Health Transformation Fund leaves gaping hole in finances at Pa.’s Geisinger Health

    Geisinger Health expects to lose more than $180 million in revenue next year when deep cuts to Medicaid start impacting the nonprofit health system with 10 hospitals in a largely rural stretch of central and northeastern Pennsylvania.

    The Rural Health Transformation Program — meant to soften the blows from the cuts imposed by Congress under Republican’s so-called “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” or H.R. 1 — offers limited relief. Geisinger expects to collect $6.7 million of the $193 million allotted to Pennsylvania.

    “It’s given us some money for some critical infrastructure that we need,” such as a CT scanner or an MRI machine for hospitals that serve rural counties, CEO Terry Gilliland said in an interview last month.

    But much of the money being distributed through the Rural Health Transformation Program, or RHTP, isn’t going to help rural hospitals because it wasn’t designed to do that. No more than 15% of the funding can be used to reimburse providers for healthcare services.

    That has left Geisinger, which is owned by California-based Kaiser Health, in a tough spot: “H.R. 1 is taking a big old chunk out of our hide, and there’s just no way for RHTP to fill the hole,” he said.

    Nationally, $911 billion in Medicaid cuts are anticipated over a decade, with $137 billion is expected to come from rural areas, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health policy. KFF’s analysis did not provide state estimates for rural losses.

    The Rural Health Transformation Fund totals $50 billion over five years. Pennsylvania would receive $965 million if it were to get the same amount each year as it did this year. Philadelphia-area health systems haven’t received money from the fund yet, but could participate in the future through projects that benefit rural Pennsylvania.

    Where the money is going

    The rural health fund is an incomplete response to the revenue hole created by H.R. 1, said Katherine Hempstead, a senior policy officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a Princeton-based philanthropy focused on healthcare advocacy and research.

    “It is mostly targeted to upstream projects designed to make rural healthcare more efficient in the long run. They may or may not be successful,” she said.

    So far, Pennsylvania has provided a breakdown of how it is spending the first $42.2 million of its first year award.

    All but $2 million went to technology and infrastructure projects, including critical needs like new roofs, HVAC systems, elevator repairs, and the repair of a collapsed sewer line.

    On the technology side, new imaging equipment was popular in the first funding round.

    With $3.7 million from that round, Geisinger got a new X-ray machine for its Bloomsburg hospital, new CT units for Jersey Shore and Lewisburg hospitals, and an upgraded compounding pharmacy for its flagship hospital in Danville.

    Geisinger applied for $3 million from a forthcoming second round and plans to use the money for a special EMS vehicle, transport vans for senior care, telehealth equipment, and other capital equipment, if it is approved.

    In addition to technology and infrastructure, Pennsylvania is focusing the rural funding on workforce development, maternal health services, behavioral health services, aging and access, and emergency medical services and transportation.

    Geisinger’s approach to filling its financial hole

    Geisinger’s estimated $180 million revenue loss next year has three main drivers. They are limits on how much federal money the state can generate through provider taxes, changes to the supplemental payments for hospitals with large numbers of Medicaid patients, and an increase in the uninsured population caused by new Medicaid enrollment rules.

    In 2025, Geisinger had about $10 billion in revenue. That’s up from $7.7 billion in 2023, that last full year before it became part of Risant Health, a new nonprofit created by Kaiser in 2023 to acquire community health systems.

    Already this year, Geisinger has seen a $10 million a month increase in charity care and bad debt write-offs, Gilliland said, which he attributed to people not being able to afford individual Affordable Care Act plans after the enhanced tax subsidies expired.

    Geisinger also expects a $47 million loss of revenue from the federal 340b drug discount program.

    “How many more of these hits can I take? The answer is not very many,” Gilliland said.

    The health system is focused on becoming more efficient.

    “There’s some optimism that says we could find some way to have artificial intelligence do some of the tasks that we typically throw humans at,” Gilliland said.

    He hopes to avoid want layoffs, given that Geisinger is often the largest employer in its communities.

    “I’d really like to figure out ways to fill the hole without having people lose their jobs because that has a much more devastating impact on the local economy,” he said.

  • The first Ronald McDonald House, a space for care and comfort, was established in West Philadelphia

    The first Ronald McDonald House, a space for care and comfort, was established in West Philadelphia

    Watching parents struggle to pay for lodging and food as their children underwent treatment for cancer in the early 1970s broke the heart of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia oncology director Audrey E. Evans.

    Evans, a British pediatric oncologist, wanted to do something to make the families comfortable during this terrible time. When she found a four-story, seven-bedroom house in West Philadelphia, she envisioned a space where beleaguered parents could stay, eat, and rest during the tough days and tougher decisions ahead of them.

    She just needed $34,000 to buy it.

    The Ronald McDonald House No. 1 was created by Alana Sxmone in a pop art, ’70s-inspired comic style to capture warmth and optimism. It features cofounders Audrey E. Evans and Jim Murray surrounded by families helped by the Ronald McDonald House.Alana Sxmone for Colibrí Workshop

    In 1974, on the other side of town, at North Philadelphia’s St. Christopher’s Hospital, Eagles tight end and wide receiver Fred Hill’s 7-year-old daughter, Kim, was fighting — and beating — acute lymphatic leukemia.

    Hill wanted to make a difference for families with sick children. With the help of the team’s then-general manager Jim Murray, he formed the fundraising nonprofit Eagles Fly for Leukemia. Together, Hill and Murray approached Kim’s doctor, Lawrence Naiman, who suggested Hill chat with Evans. She was in the midst of building CHOP’s state-of-the-art cancer facility and needed the money more than he did.

    “The Eagles pledged a million to build the oncology ward,” said Ronald McDonald House CEO Susan Campbell. “That began Dr. Evans’ relationship with Fred Hill, Murray, and Eagles owner Leonard Tose.”

    Evans didn’t stop there, said Campbell. “She told them, ‘I need to buy this house in West Philly. I need $34,000.′”

    The original Ronald McDonald House, at 4032 Spruce St. in West Philadelphia.The Ronald McDonald House

    The Eagles and McDonald’s, the fast-food chain, were clients of the same Philadelphia-based firm Elkman Advertising. Tose devised a deal: He offered to the then-regional manager of McDonald’s, Ed Rensi, his top players, including Roman Gabriel and Bill Bergey, as spokespeople for the Shamrock Shake. His ask? Maybe McDonald’s would donate a portion of the proceeds to Evans’ house.

    “Rensi said that he would give Evans all of the proceeds if she would call it the Ronald McDonald House,” Campbell said.

    On Oct. 15, 1974, Tose, Gabriel, Bergey, then-chairman of McDonald’s Ray Kroc (the same Ray Kroc for whom the area Salvation Army Kroc Centers are named), and Mayor Frank Rizzo joined Evans at the ribbon cutting of the world’s first Ronald McDonald House, at 4032 Spruce St.

    That ribbon cutting will be feted as a “firstival” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Ronald McDonald House’s Chestnut Street location. Firstivals are weekly parties the Philadelphia Historic District is throwing each Saturday celebrating people, places, and things born in Philadelphia in honor of America’s 250th birthday.

    There are more local connections: South Jersey builder John Canuso, whose daughter had leukemia, donated the elbow grease, furniture, appliances, and electrical wiring for the original Ronald McDonald House, helping it build its reputation as a sweet space for care and convalescence. By 1979, 5,000 people from 29 states and seven countries called Ronald McDonald House home during a difficult time.

    Ronald McDonald House Philadelphia cofounders Jim Murrary, Eagles general manager, and Audrey E. Evans, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia oncology director, in the 1980s at the Chestnut Street location.The Ronald McDonald House

    In 1981, the new Ronald McDonald House opened its doors at a 32-room mansion at 3925 Chestnut St. The new spot — also renovated by Canuso — replaced the original Spruce Street location. It remains open today and features 19 bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, library, and laundry room.

    Kim Hill died when she was 44, in 2011. Radiation from her treatments for leukemia as a child caused brain tumors as an adult. Fred Hill is in his 80s and lives in California.

    Evans died in 2024 in Philadelphia. She was 97.

    Eagles Fly for Leukemia still raises money and has to date donated more than $12 million to pediatric cancer research, according to its website.

    Today, there are about 400 Ronald McDonald Houses in 62 countries, including ones at 100 E. Erie Ave. in Juniata Park, in Camden, and in Wilmington. Families are given a room, three meals a day, and transportation to and from the hospital. The suggested rate is $25 a night, but no parent is turned away. All families with children facing life-threatening illnesses — and being treated at CHOP or neighboring hospitals — are welcome.

    Carmen Montes, 17, participates in a game at the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey in Camden on Oct. 14, 2016.DAVID SWANSON / Staff Photographer

    “The ultimate goal is that every child is healthy and that we wouldn’t need a Ronald McDonald House,” Campbell said. “But that isn’t the case. We are grateful that medical technology is advancing and that we’re able to support so many families on this journey.”

    This week’s Firstival is Saturday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Ronald McDonald House at 3925 Chestnut St.

    Each week, The Inquirer is highlighting a “first” from the Philadelphia Historic District’s 52 Weeks of Firsts. A “52 Weeks of Firsts” podcast, produced by All That’s Good Productions, drops every Tuesday.

  • Letters to the Editor | Sept. 24, 2026

    Letters to the Editor | Sept. 24, 2026

    Real allies

    Current U.S. foreign policy is largely an extension of President Donald Trump’s excessive ego. He decides policy without accepting much advice from staff, the State Department, or formerly allied nations.

    As demonstrated in the Mideast and elsewhere, this is a recipe for disaster.

    The U.S. can develop stronger and better Mideast policy by considering the strategy and tactics suggested by NATO and the Gulf states. This includes basic goals such as the toll-free passage of all vessels through the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab.

    Establishing a Mideast policy working group with senior representatives of NATO and the Gulf Cooperation Council (founded in 1981) would demonstrate the U.S.’s seriousness in truly revising existing Mideast policy and its implementation. Iran would also likely find these proposals more credible and more worthy of its consideration.

    This working group must restate what it is willing to offer Iran, e.g., the removal of economic sanctions, the end of the naval blockade, and possibly the issuance of generous redevelopment loans.

    It will be difficult for President Trump to have this working group take the lead without his support. However, he should appreciate that this will be politically advantageous for him in light of his current adverse situation.

    Raymond Tillman, Westbrook, Maine

    Global silence

    Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping is set to meet with President Donald Trump this week. Will it be business as usual? Human rights under Xi have deteriorated rapidly since he took power in 2012, with increased state control and repression of dissidents reaching far beyond China’s borders. China’s repression of Falun Gong, a peaceful meditation practice heavily persecuted since 1999, has been especially brutal. Falun Gong practitioners, between 70 million and 100 million at the start of the persecution, undergo the forced extraction of vital organs that supply China’s transplant industry. This form of mass murder, a $9 billion industry now also targeting Uyghurs, is made possible through international apathy. Under Xi’s direction, U.S. media and social media are being used as part of a disinformation campaign intended to influence public perception of Falun Gong. If we don’t care, we won’t speak out — business remains as usual. I believe our voices can make a difference. Ask our U.S. senators to support the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Act, a bipartisan bill designed to end this atrocity and protect our nation from complicity.

    Jessica D. Russo, Philadelphia

    Press-ing concerns

    Recent reporting on the banning of certain media and Will Bunch’s column confirm once again the extent of the Trump administration’s struggle with upholding our Constitution.

    We’ve seen it over and over — whether it’s the war with Iran, the ballroom in the former East Wing, the triumphal arch, or even the suggestion of a possible third presidential term — there is no regard for the rule of law with this White House.

    One wonders what’s in store if the administration fails to retain control of Congress in November.

    News outlets like The Inquirer — and the organizations that have been banned — must continue to shine a light on this administration so we can elect legislators who will defend the Constitution and preserve our democracy.

    Sister Veronica Roche, Westmont

    Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.

  • Dear Abby | Irresponsible daughter can’t get it together

    Dear Abby | Irresponsible daughter can’t get it together

    DEAR ABBY: I am a widow who lost my husband 15 years ago. When my husband died, we had a daughter and one grandson. My daughter, a single mom, later had another son.

    I have my own business and have worked hard these many years to help support my daughter, who is financially irresponsible. She has been evicted four times in the past 10 years, had two cars repossessed and can’t seem to keep a job for even a year.

    I am at my wits’ end. I need to stop helping her financially because it’s affecting my financial and mental health. She doesn’t have a job and can’t get her own place, so I feel I have no choice but to let her move in with me. I want to put a limit on how long she can stay. What should I do?

    — SUBJUGATED IN TEXAS

    DEAR SUBJUGATED: Do not allow your daughter to move in with you. If she does, you will never get rid of her. Give her a certain amount of money for shelter and make it plain that she must use it to find a place to live (if only temporarily). Because it’s the last handout she’ll receive, she must get a job to support herself and her children. Then let her live the life she has chosen for herself. If you don’t, you will be your dysfunctional daughter’s prisoner until the day you die.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: Throughout my professional career, I was a quality assurance engineer with the task of analysis and corrective actions. If something broke or an error was made (for example, a worker’s hand getting caught in a machine), I’d try to identify a fix so it wouldn’t happen again. I am now retired and still tend to approach things with the same attitude.

    I often get frustrated when someone makes an error and there’s no corrective action, admission that a mistake was made or even a small apology. I recently discovered an error on my financial accounts and asked the bank how this was overlooked even after I had pointed out the error prior to the account being processed. Abby, I was completely ignored and never received any feedback. What’s the best way to ask someone for an explanation concerning what actions were taken to ensure the error does not happen again?

    — KEEN ON QUALITY

    DEAR KEEN ON QUALITY: In your line of work, safety was the top priority. You developed a zero-tolerance attitude toward errors because it was literally a matter of life and limb. Outside that environment, however, you may find it helpful to remember that the stakes are not nearly so high.

    No permanent harm came of the bank error. You are right that it would be best if the bank reviewed its procedures to avoid future errors, but that’s their job, not yours. Having corrected the error in a timely fashion, the bank owes you no further explanation. Trust that, in the future, they will do their best to improve without your help (but always check your statements).

  • Horoscopes: Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026

    Horoscopes: Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ve helped several people lately, and some may feel they owe you. You have no interest in keeping score; that would be work. The best part comes when you make it clear the favor was freely given.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). People adapt quickly to good things — a working car or a reliable friend are easy realities to take for granted. Not you. You’ll notice what people do for you and say so plainly. They feel seen. Goodwill grows from there.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It’s weird how much ordinary exchanges help today: the cashier who jokes with you, a neighbor who holds the door, someone who answers your question straight. Small pieces of proof that you’re among people and part of things are grounding.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). In race car design, sleek lines help reduce air resistance and increase speed. Designers still add wings and vents when they serve a purpose. Today, you’ll cut the extra step or obligation that slows you down.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Many people are curious about their own lives, but you go much further with a sustained curiosity for its own sake. Today, you want to understand the thing behind the thing. You’ll follow a question past the useful answer, enjoying complexity.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Some people have a knack for showing up just after the hard work has ended. You want to be the one noticing who needs help at just the right moment — which is usually before being asked. Today, you’ll succeed.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Handle a bit of unfinished business. It may seem small, but it’s significant. Once you’re done, it will be as though you’ve hit the button for the set change. The curtain closes, everything moves and suddenly you’re in the next act.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Plenty of feelings blow over because they were caused by circumstances in the moment. You can let those pass. The feeling that keeps returning — that’s the one to investigate further. It’s telling you something very useful.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re really starting to want something that only discipline can give you. Make it easy on yourself. Sign up for the class, put an appointment on the calendar or tell a friend you’ll be there. Money already spent can be useful motivation.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Someone isn’t holding up their end. You can see it as an insult, but it won’t help things. Calling it a “mistake” won’t change the reality either. Action is what’s needed, not a positive, negative or new spin. Action.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You can tell when people want something from you, even before they say it. That awareness does not obligate you to deliver. In fact, it gives you more time to think about what you’re willing, able or inclined to do.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Humans copy one another. It’s how we learn, how we show respect, and sometimes how we understand where we fit in. You’ll be imitated in some way, which speaks to your influence. At some point, the question becomes one of compensation.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 24). It’s your Year of Ambitious Dreams when you set your hopes on a pie in the sky and then you actually get to taste it. You’ve never been afraid to work for what you want, but this year you’re also willing to try new things, face rejection and make mistakes. It’s the bravery that brings you success. More highlights: exciting friendships, a key community role and the sweetness of being needed. Cancer and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 11, 6, 33 and 29.

  • Eagles fans calling to ‘save Philadelphia tailgating’ after new guidelines proposed for sports complex

    Eagles fans calling to ‘save Philadelphia tailgating’ after new guidelines proposed for sports complex

    South Jersey native Carmen “Big Carm” Conti has been tailgating Eagles games for 10 years. And every year, the 38-year-old has set up in the exact same spot in F Lot. Just this past season opener, Conti’s tailgate welcomed about 75 to 100 people with a wing competition and a rotating DJ set — but that may have been the tailgate’s big send-off.

    Last Monday, Conti took to social media to express concerns about the tradition’s future. In a post that read “Save Philadelphia Tailgating,” Conti explained the changes that could be coming to the South Philadelphia sports complex.

    “Increased restrictions in the parking lots threaten the larger tailgates that have become part of the Eagles game-day experience,” Conti wrote on Facebook. “We are being told that tailgating should be limited to the space directly in front of or behind a vehicle. But larger, organized tailgates often require four to six parking spaces for tents, tables, grills, food preparation, entertainment, equipment, and most importantly, room for people to safely gather.

    “And now there is another major concern: hand parking. Under this system, parking attendants would direct vehicles into specific spaces instead of allowing fans to park in the locations they have used for years. That might sound like a small change to someone who simply arrives, parks, and walks into the stadium. For established tailgates, it is anything but small.”

    Inside the tailgates for the Eagles’ home opener

    Conti first learned about the news when security guards approached him at his tailgate during Week 1 vs. the Washington Commanders.

    “They try to do this like every three years,” Conti said. “They try to implement something where it cracks down on the tailgate. It’s a Philly tradition, you know, it’s something my family has been doing since before I was born. Tailgating brings people together. It doesn’t matter what team you’re on. … It’s our way of standing behind our team and bringing everybody together.”

    Sights and sounds from the tailgate scene at the Eagles season opener
    Video: Sights and sounds from the tailgate scene at the Eagles season opener

    The new rules would crack down on the bigger tailgates, adding new restrictions on oversized vehicles.

    Sports Complex Parking Venture made an announcement on new guidelines, sent via email, that would be enforced “in an effort to provide a smoother, more convenient parking experience for guests.”

    Here’s what it said:

    The designated parking for oversized vehicles will be in Lot D in the Xfinity Mobile Arena and the upper section of Lot N. Parking locations will be assigned and cannot be saved by guests. All equipment and vehicles must stay within the purchased space, and companion standard-sized cars and trucks will not be permitted to park in the areas designated for oversized vehicles.

    “I don’t think it’s terribly surprising, although it does stink for the bigger tailgates that rely on being grouped together,” said Dylan Marck, a self-taught chef who has been serving high-end cuisines at tailgates since 2022. “But getting in and out has always been a mess, even with permits, so it’s not really surprising that they’re trying to change it up and maximize that space.”

    Changes will be enforced for the next home game scheduled for Oct. 4 vs. the Los Angeles Rams — leaving some tailgaters worried about the communities that have been built in the parking lots of the South Philadelphia sports complex.

    “I do think it could effectively end a lot of the bigger tailgates and little micro communities that developed,” Marck said. “Personally, not looking forward to potentially being whisked to a random spot and then having to figure it out from there, but we will adapt. We always do.”

    Dylan Marck hands out slices of a T-bone steak he just prepared while tailgating in Lot M before an Eagles game in 2024.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    ‘Ready to fight’

    On Wednesday, Conti and other tailgaters affected by the change held a news conference at South Philly Boxing Gym in South Philadelphia.

    “Where are we at? A boxing gym,” said Louis Jordan, a member of Hungry Dawgs tailgate. “We’re ready to fight for what we believe in and what we love.”

    Conti emphasized that the tailgaters wanted a “seat at the table” to discuss the upcoming changes. To do so, the tailgaters moved to organize.

    “We are starting a committee so we can actually sit down on the board,” Conti said. “That’s going to be chosen right after here, after we get done. It’s going to be called the Philadelphia Tailgaters Association for Tailgate. We have to do something. We have to stand together.”

    Eagles fans gather at the South Philly Boxing Gym for a “Save Eagles Tailgating” news conference.Conor Smith

    Affordability was a major topic of the news conference. Multiple tailgaters emphasized that tailgating offers a low-cost alternative for families who cannot afford to attend an Eagles game. One noted he regularly gets “heartfelt messages” of gratitude from mothers who take their children to tailgates to get a game day experience.

    This September, a single ticket to an Eagles game cost an average of $523.

    “Yeah, there’s a lot of kids that come to the tailgates and the parents bring them just because they know it’s safe,” Kellie Berrios, a tailgate DJ, said. ”They can walk around. There’s food everywhere. Everyone’s having good time. It makes you feel welcome.”

    Vic Fangio says safety starters are staying put, won’t increase Cooper DeJean’s snaps at the position

    Multiple tailgaters present also pointed out that FIFA bent its rules to allow tailgates outside of Lincoln Financial Field for the World Cup this summer. At the time, a spokesperson for Philadelphia’s local organizing committee told The Inquirer that it was “committed to delivering a World Cup that is authentically Philadelphia.”

    “We told FIFA we wouldn’t change our tailgate culture for them,” Jeremy Smith, a tailgate chef, said. “So why are you actually changing it for us? We don’t understand. We like have a seat at the table.”

  • Phillies’ chances of clinching a wild card put on hold with 4-1 loss to the Brewers

    Phillies’ chances of clinching a wild card put on hold with 4-1 loss to the Brewers

    The cans of beer and bottles of champagne will remain unopened for now, and the protective plastic lining the ceiling of the Phillies clubhouse will have to stay rolled up for at least another day.

    Because following their 4-1 loss to the Brewers on Wednesday, the Phillies were unable to clinch a playoff spot, regardless of what happened on the other side of the country with the Diamondbacks or Padres. So their celebrations will have to wait.

    The Phillies’ magic number for a playoff spot remained at two after victories by the Diamondbacks and Padres later Wednesday night. They can clinch a spot in the postseason with a victory over the Brewers on Thursday and a loss by the Padres. The Diamondbacks defeated the Rockies earlier on Thursday.

    Phillies may be preparing Andrew Painter for a bullpen role by keeping him on normal rest for his next start

    “We know what we have to do. We have to go out there and keep playing,” said Kyle Schwarber. “Obviously we want to lock this thing down as soon as we can. But just wasn’t our night tonight, and got to move forward.”

    They trailed the entire game. Starter Aaron Nola allowed four runs, though they came on just four hits.

    Brice Turang and Christian Yelich hit solo homers. The Brewers added two more runs in the third inning, as a leadoff walk to nine-hole hitter David Hamilton came back to haunt Nola. Turang doubled, before a single from William Contreras got past a diving Bryson Stott to score two more.

    “The Turang one, just left over the plate a little bit too much, and then the Yelich one didn’t really bite like I wanted it to, that cutter,” Nola said. “And Contreras capped the ball in the right spot, right there. Tough team, they battled me hard. They always do. Tough one tonight.”

    Aaron Nola allowed four runs on four hits.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    That was all the damage Nola allowed, as he retired the final 10 Milwaukee hitters he faced and struck out eight over six innings. But it proved too much to overcome for the offense, despite the best efforts from Stott, who reached base three times with two doubles and a walk.

    With Wednesday marking his final start of the regular season, Nola finished with a 3.03 ERA in the second half. The veteran right-hander’s resurgence — his first-half ERA was 5.75 — has been key for the Phillies.

    “I know what I’m capable of, to make better pitches than I was in the first half,” Nola said. “Felt like I was giving up a lot of home runs, and I gave up a lot of home runs this year anyway, but felt like more solos in the second half, rather than the first.”

    NL wild-card standings

    window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}});

    It would be hard to imagine the Nola from before the All-Star break making a postseason appearance, let alone starting a game. But his comeback has changed the calculus. Although the Phillies have not yet determined their rotation for a potential wild-card series, it’s possible Nola could take the ball for one of the three games.

    Nola said the Phillies have not yet discussed their postseason plan with him, adding that it doesn’t matter. He intends to go about his routine as normal and ensure his body is ready for whatever he’s asked to do.

    “Aaron’s been huge for us,” interim manager Don Mattingly said. “A lot of talk early, coming off last year into this year, and [he] struggled early. But what he’s been able to do for us, it’s turned that spot in the rotation to [where] you feel like he’s going to give you a good game every time out.”

    Trea Turner and the Phillies finished 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    The offense missed plenty of opportunities to pick Nola up. Collectively, the Phillies finished 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position. The Brewers, on the other hand, were 1-for-1.

    “I think the biggest thing is, we gave ourselves some chances,” Mattingly said. “Just really weren’t able to to cash in on enough opportunities.”

    The Phillies scratched across their only run in the second inning on a groundout from J.T. Realmuto that scored Alec Bohm from third. Though Realmuto picked up the RBI, the catcher’s slump stretched on, reaching a career-high 0-for-26 by the end of the night.

    Twice, Bryce Harper and Luis Arraez each came up representing the tying run, and twice, they had nothing to show for it. In the fifth, Harper and Arraez flied out to strand Justin Crawford on third and Kyle Schwarber on first. In the seventh, Harper and Arraez grounded out to strand Schwarber and Trea Turner.

    ‘Phillies Extra’ Q&A: Former GM Matt Klentak on acquiring two aces, and missing out on another

    Both times, Harper swung at the first pitch. It’s become a trend of late for the right fielder, who has a 53.1% first-pitch swing rate in September, up from 42.5% in August.

    “I really don’t worry about anything with Bryce,” Mattingly said before the game. “Honestly, he’s one of those guys that he’s going to be aggressive. We want him to be aggressive. … So yeah, we trust Bryce to do his thing.”

    Out of the bullpen, Tanner Banks pitched two scoreless innings while Max Lazar delivered a scoreless ninth to give the offense one more chance. But Derek Hill, Turner, and Schwarber went down in order.

    Phillies Bryson Stott celebrates after hitting a double in the fourth inning of the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies MLB baseball game at Citzens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
    Phillies Brandon Marsh after striking out in the fourth inning of the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies MLB baseball game at Citzens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
    Phillies pitcher Tanner Banks gets high fives in the dugout after pitching in the eighth inning of the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies MLB baseball game at Citzens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
    Phils Bryson Stott tries to throw out Brewers # 11 Jackson Chourio in the eighth inning of the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies MLB baseball game at Citzens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Chourio was quick and beat the throw to first base.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
    Phils Trea Turner strikes out to end the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies MLB baseball game at Citzens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The Phillies were defeated by the Brewers 4-1.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
    After Trea Turner struck out to end the game he went directly to the tablets in the dugout, presumably to review his at bat in the ninrth inning of the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies MLB baseball game at Citzens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The. Phils lost to the Brewers 4-1.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
    Phils pitcher Aaron Nola looks down as Brewers # 22 Christian Yelich rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the second inning of the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies MLB baseball game at Citzens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
    Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola watches the homerun ball hit by Brewers # 2 Brice Turang in the first inning of the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies MLB baseball game at Citzens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    The Phillies will get another opportunity to shrink the magic number further — and perhaps even unfurl the plastic — in Thursday’s series finale against the Brewers, with right-hander Andrew Painter on the mound.

    “Obviously we’re all frustrated, and we wanted to go out there and we wanted to get this done tonight, lock this thing up,” Schwarber said. “But we got to move on. We got a game tomorrow, and there’s an opportunity for us tomorrow.”

  • Early-season nor’easter prompts flood warnings for the Shore, and advisories for Philly into the weekend

    Early-season nor’easter prompts flood warnings for the Shore, and advisories for Philly into the weekend

    Flood warnings are up for the Jersey Shore, where winds could gust to 50 mph, and high-tide flooding is expected along the Delaware River into Saturday as that very early-season nor’easter matures off the Southeast coast.

    On Thursday morning, the storm was gathering strength off the Southeast coast, as predicted, and the projected track was closer to the coast than earlier predicted.

    But what’s been happening thus far at the Shore and Philly area likely has had more to do with an extraordinary system to the north that normally is associated with dry and tranquil weather, said John Gyakum, an atmospheric scientist and coastal-storm expert at McGill University in Montreal.

    It is working in tandem with a burgeoning cyclone that he characterized as “unusual” for occurring so soon in autumn — actually, make that Day One.

    Overall, he said, this has been a start to fall “that we haven’t experienced in quite a while.”

    And while the El Niño intensifying in the equatorial Pacific likely has nothing to do with what will happen around here in the next few days, this nor’easter may foreshadow what is to come during the winter.

    The National Weather Service on Wednesday was warning of potentially damaging “moderate flooding” with the “potential for widespread roadway flooding … as well as damage to vulnerable structures. Some roadways will become impassable.” In addition, winds could gust up to 45 mph at the beaches and 35 mph inland.

    What’s more, the growing influence of the moon, which reaches fullness Saturday, is going to provide an astronomical tug to the tides.

    The weather service also has issued an advisory for flooding along the Delaware River expected to reach moderate levels Friday and Saturday.

    Officials in the beach towns were making preparations.

    Ocean City was advising residents to “move vehicles to safe places,” spokesperson Doug Bergen said. And the Army Corps of Engineers moved its beach-fill equipment in Avalon and Ocean City to safe harbors.

    It was a breezy day for strollers on the Ocean City Boardwalk, here near 9th Street.Vernon Ogrodnek / For The Inquirer

    The expected timing of the flooding

    The weather service said moderate flooding could be expected on the oceanfront with four consecutive high-tide cycles at7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday, with minor flooding during the other hide tides.

    Moderate flooding was forecast in the back bay areas Thursday evening and again on Friday evening and Saturday morning.

    At the moderate level, some roads can become “impassable,” and some houses could incur damage, the weather service said.

    Along the Delaware River, minor flooding was predicted for six consecutive high tides starting at 1 p.m. Thursday.

    No rain is expected until the weekend, with the amounts very much dependent on whether the storm makes a westward jog toward the coast or stays farther out to sea. As of late Wednesday, the computer models still were disputing the issue.

    For now, the weather service has a chance of rain both in the immediate Philly region and at the Shore.

    It is likely to stay breezy through the weekend, but the winds are forecast to take a more northerly turn, rather than howling onshore. The switch would be gentler on the beaches, which will have lost considerable sand.

    The nor’easter is getting a kick from the north

    Temperatures in the region Wednesday were in the mid-60s, about 10 degrees below normal and close to what they would normally be in late October.

    The chilly conditions were the result of a massive area of high pressure, or heavier air, over southeastern Canada.

    Winds circulate clockwise around centers of high pressure, and thus the Shore and the Philly region have been getting brisk winds from the northeast.

    The high is also supplying the cool air that is contrasting with the warm air off the Southeast coast, thus igniting the nor’easter, said Gyakum, who is credited with minting the term bomb cyclone.

    Winds circulate counterclockwise around storm centers, so areas to the northwest of the center (see: Jersey Shore, Philadelphia) experience onshore winds from the northeast (thus the term nor’easter).

    The two systems working in tandem are conspiring to generate gusts and potential rains likely to peak along the New England coast, said Bob Oravec, senior branch meteorologist at the federal Weather Prediction Center.

    Still, the Jersey Shore impacts are likely to be significant.

    What might the storm mean for the future?

    Typically, El Niño does not start to affect weather in the Northeast until later in the fall and into the winter.

    However, this storm could be a harbinger.

    “There tends to be an increased number of nor’easters during El Niño events, particularly strong El Niños,” said Samantha Borisoff, climatologist with the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University.

    Although this nor’easter is a precocious one, on the first full day of the astronomical fall, it is a clear indication the seasons have changed.

    Said Oravec: “You can’t fool the sun. Eventually the atmosphere responds.”

  • Tyrese Maxey visits local spots to promote signature New Balance shoes: ‘Philadelphia has raised me’

    Tyrese Maxey visits local spots to promote signature New Balance shoes: ‘Philadelphia has raised me’

    Standing out front of Faheem’s Hand of Precision, located on South 20th Street, Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey recalled sitting on his front steps “like a bad kid.” During his second year in Philly, the two-time All-Star would walk across the street to get hot chips, watch a young kid from the neighborhood ride his dirt bike back and forth, and see kids on the bus passing by banging on their windows to get his attention.

    Fast forward five years and Maxey was back on his old stomping grounds on Wednesday to promote the upcoming release of his signature New Balance sneaker, the Maxey v1s.

    “I went and got a haircut and sat on those steps and talked to people that walked by,” Maxey said. “I came through here during the times of 5, 6 p.m. where the whole block, everybody is here. … This is a place of comfort. This is a place of family. It means a lot.”

    ESPN Rank places Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and LeBron James among NBA’s top 20 players

    Faheem Alexander, Maxey’s barber, has owned the shop for 26 years. Inside, the walls are decorated with photos of Alexander with celebrities like Tiffany Haddish and Tracy Morgan.

    However, there’s still no photo of Maxey and Alexander hanging up — yet.

    “I have a spot cleared out for him,” Alexander said. “That’s my foundation pic. I want everybody to come in and see the picture. It’s been amazing to see him grow, from a fresh-faced 18-, 19-year-old kid, to now, he’s a father [at] 25 years old. … It’s just easy. He’s a beautiful person.”

    Tyrese Maxey sits on the front step of his barbershop, Faheem’s Hands of Precision, while promoting his new signature sneakers.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Maxey getting his own signature shoe is another example of the young guard’s rising star power. He signed a shoe deal with New Balance in 2023, joining players like Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray, and Zach LaVine. Since then, he’s starred in the brand’s “We Got Now” ad, and released the Tyrese Maxey Hero Pack — which is a collection inspired by Maxey’s love of comic books that included a basketball shoe, the New Balance Hesi Low v2, and a lifestyle shoe, the New Balance 1906R.

    “I’m just feeling blessed, and thankful for the opportunity,” Maxey said. “And then the biggest thing, I just hope the people are as positive and happy about it as I am. I hope when they put them on, they get to have fun with them. I hope the shoe brings them joy, as much as it brings me. That’s the biggest thing I wish and hope for. And I’m glad to see it come to fruition now.”

    Tyrese Maxey takes a tour of his old Philly stomping grounds to promote new signature shoe
    Video: Tyrese Maxey takes a tour of his old Philly stomping grounds to promote new signature shoe

    Maxey debuted his New Balance signature shoes in April during the Sixers’ 109-97 play-in game victory over the Orlando Magic that clinched the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. Ahead of the sneaker’s release, Maxey visited three local Philly spots as a way to surprise fans.

    His first stop was at Foot Locker, located on Chestnut Street, where he met with the workers and posed for photos with fans who spotted him through the window.

    Tyrese Maxey stopped at Foot Locker on Chestnut Street to promote his new signature sneakers, the Maxey V1s.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    “I basically grew up here,” Maxey said. “I’ve been through all these places, these streets, everywhere. And that’s just me trying to be a good person and a good role model to the kids and the people in the city — making them smile. Philadelphia has really raised me and it’s really helped me become the person I am today and I’m very thankful.”

    The second stop was at the cheesesteak spot Ishkabibble’s, located on South Street, where Maxey took pictures with the staff.

    Sixers’ Jaylen Brown channels outer space with his new signature shoes that are ‘NOT from HERE’

    “Ishkabibble’s is important to me because it’s the first place I had a cheesesteak,” Maxey said. “Cheesesteaks are huge here. And now whenever I’m close to Ishkabibble’s, I always go stop in. I’ve taken everybody there that I know, pretty much, that come to town.”

    As Maxey was leaving the shop, Carlos Deloatch, 54, and his wife Valencia Whitfield, 69, stopped him to chat about the upcoming season.

    “Don’t let LeBron [James] come to our city and steal your shine,” Deloatch said.

    Tyrese Maxey (center) talks with Carlos Deloatch (left) and Valencia Whitfield (right) while visiting Ishkabibble’s on Wednesday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    “He came here to help,” Maxey responded with a smile.

    The Maxey v1s have been in the works since January. The low-top sneakers have a black base made of suede and mesh material, with light blueish gray accents that swoop into the design.

    “The biggest thing was trying to keep it a secret,” Maxey said. “There’s been a lot of times where people have asked me on the spot in interviews in live situations like ‘Hey, you think New Balance will give you a shoe?’ and I know the shoe is coming, but I can’t say anything. … That was one of the most entertaining parts.”

    The sneaker is set to release on Oct. 2.