Hi, Philly. After all that talk of snow in yesterday’s newsletter, we have more, despite this week’s near-balmy temperatures: A snow record is officially on the books in New Jersey, 30 years later after it was set.
Gov. Josh Shapiro will officially announce today that he is seeking reelection in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, speculation over a 2028 run for president continues to build.
And national attention on Philadelphia has been ramping up ahead of big events for the country’s 250th birthday. Below, learn the history of yet another notable first we can claim: a certain city-sponsored New Year’s Day procession.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Ready to run
With expected stops in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh today, Gov. Shapiro is kicking off his campaign to be Pennsylvania’s chief executive for another four years.
Speculation over a potential run for president just two years from now is building, too.
Shapiro has been elusive when asked directly about plans for 2028. But he has made a number of big public moves to raise his national profile in the past year and change since he was on Vice President Kamala Harris’ short list of potential running mates.
If he does run parallel campaigns, the gubernatorial election must take precedence, observers say.
Notable quote: “The challenge, of course, is you have to take care of your next election first,” a polling expert told The Inquirer. “Of anything he does, he knows this is the most important thing for his potential success in 2028 if he was to run.”
Politics reporters Julia Terruso and Gillian McGoldrick have more.
Plus: State Sen. Doug Mastriano will not seek the GOP nomination for Pennsylvania’s governorship again this year, after months of teasing a potential run. Mastriano lost to Shapiro in the 2022 election by nearly 15 percentage points.
Philly’s year
Now that we’re officially in 2026, the year of the United States’ Semiquincentennial, the spotlight of the world’s attention on Philadelphia is getting brighter.
🔔 The New York Times just stuck Philly (and, yes, some nearby places in the original colonies) at the top of its popular annual “52 Places to Go” list. That distinction came two weeks after the Wall Street Journal named it the world’s top travel destination this year, too.
🔔 At home, we’ve already begun recognizing American milestones. Philadelphia Historic District Partners’ 52 Weeks of Firsts kicked off last week by celebrating the country’s first hydrogen-powered balloon ride.
🔔 This week, they’re honoring the first folk parade. You know the one — it involves sequins, feathers, and (probably) a hangover.
Further reading: On this week in 1776, Thomas Paine published his 47-page pamphlet Common Sense — and helped ignite a revolution.
What you should know today
- Philadelphia violence prevention groups say they were flourishing. Then, President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice cut their funding.
- Two former Philly homicide detectives were sentenced to probation Wednesday for lying about DNA evidence during the retrial of a man they helped convict of murder 35 years ago.
- After an attempted package theft in Feltonville turned into a police shootout, officials are asking for the public’s help to find the alleged thief and shooter.
- Pennsylvania and New Jersey lost thousands of jobs after the Trump administration offered federal workers the opportunity to resign with months of pay last year.
- Councilmember Jeffery “Jay” Young introduced a bill at the last City Council meeting of 2025 to ban residential development from the area around the former Hahnemann University Hospital.
- Philadelphia will open two new public schools soon: a K-8 and a high school that will follow the acclaimed Harlem Children’s Zone model.
- Alfonso Q. Llano Jr., a veteran Vineland educator, has been named the state-appointed superintendent to oversee the Camden school system.
- After more than 40 years behind bars, reputed former Black Mafia leader Lonnie Dawson has been freed from prison. See how the Daily News and Inquirer covered his case.
Quote of the day
The third-generation owner of Donkey’s Place doesn’t know where the walrus penis bone came from, but he said it’s been with the bar since he was a kid. A patron was captured on video stealing the oddity on Dec. 29.
🧠 Trivia time
To prevent development, Radnor Township is moving to use eminent domain to take 14 acres owned by what?
A) Cabrini University
B) Penn Medicine Radnor
C) Willows Mansion
D) Valley Forge Military Academy
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re …
📺 Anticipating: Donna Kelce’s reality TV debut tonight on The Traitors.
🦅 Appreciating: Ladder 15’s response to the 49ers fans planning a playoff takeover.
🏘️ Ogling: This $9.9 million Lower Merion mansion with a bonus house next door.
🗞️ Mourning: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which will shut down May 3.
🗳️ Considering: Why Pennsylvania’s leaders are losing Gen Z.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Manayunk music festival (three words)
GNOME SUSHI
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Lee Narozanick, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Sheetz. Stephen G. Sheetz, the former president and CEO of the Altoona convenience store chain, died Sunday. His legacy — and the Wawa vs. Sheetz rivalry — lives on.
Photo of the day
Cheer up, buddy, the weekend’s almost here. See you tomorrow.
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