🛷 Sled finder, sled keeper? | Morning Newsletter

Good morning.

We’re still in the arctic-cold single digits, and snowpacks continue to melt at a glacial pace. Resident weather expert Tony Wood explains its profoundly chilling effect on cleanup efforts.

Today, we take on a reader’s question about unclaimed sleds on snowy hills.

Plus, there’s news on Sixers co-owner Josh Harris’ email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein, what customers are saying about Di Bruno Bros. closing three stores, and our weekly report card for the latest regional news.

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

What you should know today

• At a Friday hearing, a federal judge chastised a Trump administration attorney for making “dangerous” arguments over the abrupt removal of slavery-related exhibits from the President’s House. The judge said she will visit the site at Independence Mall before deciding the fate of the dismantled displays.
• One year ago today, a deadly medical jet crash devastated Northeast Philadelphia. City officials plan to hold a memorial observance this evening to honor its victims.
• Newly released emails reveal an ongoing business relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and Sixers co-owner Josh Harris. The records — buried within 3 million documents — shed light on a yearslong correspondence.
• While Di Bruno Bros. shoppers lamented the imminent closure of three grocery stores, some said that they weren’t surprised and that they had noticed a change in quality over the last few years.
• A month after dangerous winds led Mummers string bands to cancel their New Year’s Day Parade competition, one string band says it’ll be too cold to play Saturday’s makeup show at the Linc. Here’s how the Eagles and other Philly pro sports teams pulled strings of their own to help make the event happen.
• Journalist, tireless community activist, and “Philadelphia institution” Dan McQuade has died at 43. “He understood Philadelphians better than anyone because he was one,” a colleague said, “quirky and funny, competitive and humble, loyal and kind.”
• Eli Lilly plans to build a $3.5 billion pharmaceutical plant in the Lehigh Valley to expand manufacturing capacity for next-generation weight-loss medicines.
• An appeals court declined to reinstate racketeering charges against George Norcross. It will be up to a new attorney general to decide what’s next.
• A federal jury in Philadelphia ruled that Comcast owes a start-up company $240 million for infringing on its patent and using its voice-remote technology.
• From Center City West’s increasingly grimy sidewalks to the unhinged return of savesies, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.

About those stray sleds

With the snow sticking around, slopes across the Philadelphia region are still being used for sledding fun.

But what happens if you come across a lonely sled? We’re answering this reader question: Every time we go sledding, my kids somehow inevitably lose a sled. And every time, there seem to be extra, unclaimed sleds lying around. Is taking one of those stealing (from a child!), or just part of the karmic redistribution of sleds?

To discuss sled etiquette, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss called on two other fathers, reporters Jason Nark and Mike Newall. Their chat touched on every possible option, from posting about a found sled on Facebook to borrowing it for the afternoon — and then just leaving it be.

They also reminisced on the “rough business” of being a kid and fighting for your sled, and using things like garbage can lids as makeshift sleds. (That reminded me of this absolutely wild reel of a guy trying his luck with a suitcase, a mattress, and … a frying pan.)

Read along for their full take. And if you’re looking for advice, we’re all ears. Send in your pressing Philadelphia problems here.

One viewpoint

Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson is a strong advocate for snow days. Snow weeks? Not so much.

In the latest edition of Shackamaxon, Pearson gives his take on Philadelphia’s “underwhelming” snow response, as well as political incentives and the city’s “resign to run” provision.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this historic house is located?

Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s places and streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Music school

INTUIT CRUSTIEST

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

Cheers to Maria Francesconi, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Atlantic City. The resort hub’s international airport is getting more southbound flights on Breeze Airways.

We were there

Hundreds of the world’s best tattoo artists and their fans got together at the Villain Arts Tattoo Festival in Philadelphia Jan. 23 to 25. Staff photographer Tyger Williams captured the ink in action.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

“I beg your finest pardon?!?!?” This runner takes dedication to a whole new level.

Over on Facebook, the Philadelphia Art Museum posted Guy Carleton Wiggins’ 1935 piece “Snowstorm, Fifth Avenue” for the snowy occasion. I also saw this nice frosty sunrise view from Conshohocken.

And I’m still not over the car found encased in slush and ice in Fishtown. At least its windshield wipers are up…

👋🏽 That’s it for now. I’ll bring you the news again tomorrow morning.

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.