Rise and shine, Philly.
Thursday will be freezing — literally — and another cold stretch is coming. Resident weather expert Tony Wood explains what may be ahead for the rest of this season.
In today’s main read, turning ordinary Phillyspeak into a relaxing sound has created an unlikely local celebrity. Get to know the comedian behind the viral Wawa whispers.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Hoagie-mouthed ‘ASMR’
Some may find the Philadelphia accent “to be like nails on a chalkboard,” as Betsy Kenney put it. But with millions of views on social media, she has managed to make her hometown way of talking a comforting noise for the world to hear.
For the uninitiated: ASMR is a soothing sensation by way of soft sounds or repetitive patterns. Think soft tapping or scratching.
Where Kenney comes in: She records herself whispering in her native Philly tongue and combines it with sounds that some find relaxing, like a spoon scooping Rita’s water ice.
Like music to Philly’s ears: Kenney found success doing impression videos, and noticed viewers were vibing with her uniquely Philly voice. Even Kylie Kelce rated Kenney’s accent an 11.
Abigail Covington has the story on Kenney’s comedy career taking shape since returning to her roots.
Winter nearing halftime
Bundle up — it’s about to get much colder, if not snowier, around here.
🥶 Our coldest stretch is coming soon. Starting Sunday, Philadelphia will experience a dramatic drop into next week. We’re talking lows in the teens.
🌨️ Snow or no snow? “We’re kind of in a waiting game,” one forecast specialist told Tony Wood.
❄️ Winter so far has been pretty “normal” around here, as it relates to snowfall and temperatures, according to the raw stats, but not behavior.
Let Wood guide you through what may remain of winter.
What you should know today
- Some elected city officials and community leaders on Wednesday called for ICE to get out of Philadelphia, saying agents had become a threat to safety and to the orderly administration of justice.
- Bucks County Sheriff Danny Ceisler terminated his office’s controversial partnership with ICE, citing negative impacts on public safety and immigrants’ trust of law enforcement. Haverford Township officials also voted this week to bar its police department from cooperating with the agency.
- Federal prosecutors have reportedly requested documents and information tied to the 2011 case of Ellen Greenberg. Sources say the inquiry appears to involve the handling of her death investigation.
- While the cause of last month’s fatal helicopter crash in South Jersey remains undetermined, investigators released a preliminary report piecing together a timeline detailing what happened before and after.
- St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, a key safety-net provider in North Philadelphia, on Wednesday announced its third leadership change in less than three years.
- Pennsylvania Horticultural officials have billed the 2026 Flower Show — Philly’s first major event of its yearlong festivities planned for the 250th anniversary of America — as a celebration of the history of plants and gardening culture in the United States.
- At local colleges with major sports programs, some student athletes are now getting paychecks — from their athletic departments. Here’s how it’s going so far at Penn State, Temple, and other schools.
- The Art Museum steps will keep one Rocky statue — at the top. Another statue, which has not yet been determined, will be installed at the bottom of steps.
🧠 Trivia time
After eight seasons with Philadelphia, Ranger Suárez is headed to the American League. Which team just signed the left-handed pitcher?
A) Minnesota Twins
B) New York Yankees
C) Kansas City Royals
D) Boston Red Sox
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re…
🛍️ Explaining: What the Saks bankruptcy means for Philly-area shoppers.
🍸 Enjoying: Discounted cozy cocktails and small bites in Media.
🎤 Attending: Philly shows this week, which include Public Enemy and a Bob Dylan tribute.
💸 Noticing: A new service charge on OpenTable.
🇮🇪 Considering: How the Irish helped shape Philadelphia — and the United States.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Former Eagles tight end and Super Bowl champion
NECK TREBLE
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Robin Connell, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Pennsylvania Convention Center. The United Soccer Coaches Convention returns to Philly this week, with extra interest in a World Cup year.
Photo of the day
👋🏽 Thanks for reading. The weekend is almost here. Take care, and I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow morning.
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