Welcome to March.
Sunday will be cloudy and may see a wintry mix of precipitation.
Centuries of artifacts are buried in Philadelphia soil. Who should be allowed to dig up the city’s history? It depends on whom you ask.
Further on, we’re covering the latest on the U.S.-Israel joint strikes on Iran. Check Inquirer.com for developments.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Buried treasure
Both amateur diggers and professional archaeologists say that they’re working in the public interest, but breaching the ground is a delicate practice and subject.
🚧 Not all “privy pirates” are the same. Some follow a set of rules and dig with integrity, but others trespass, shut out the professionals, and sell what they find underground.
🚧 Some archaeologists say the city has done little to protect its buried history, and warn about the risks of indiscriminate digging. “Once you dig through a site, you’ve destroyed it,” one told The Inquirer. “It’s gone.”
🚧 America’s 250th birthday is approaching, putting Philadelphia’s rich history in the national spotlight and raising questions about the access and preservation of that history.
In related news: Federal officials seized 36 Bronze Age-era short swords and 50 arrowheads following their arrival in Philadelphia in October.
‘Operation Epic Fury’
The U.S. and Israel launched a major joint attack on Iran early Saturday, following months of rising tensions and the movement of American warships into the region last week.
At least 201 people were killed and more than 700 were injured, according to Iranian state media. President Donald Trump said on social media that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attack.
Global leaders are holding emergency security meetings and calling for the resumption of U.S.-Iran negotiations as the attack sowed concerns of a broader conflict. Trump said his main concern is the “freedom” of the Iranian people.
Pennsylvania Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick praised the coordinated strikes, while other lawmakers in the region have criticized it and called for legislators to return to Congress immediately.
In response to the turmoil, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherill said law enforcement would increase patrols at sensitive sites like houses of worship, while Philadelphia police said it was monitoring the situation overseas.
What you should know today
- A newly proposed bill would permanently restore all exhibits to the President’s House Site that were removed by the Trump administration in January.
- Immigrants are the only reason Philadelphia’s population is growing, according to a new analysis. It suggests stricter federal policies could threaten the city’s economic gains.
- New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Friday that “all options are on the table” when asked by The Inquirer whether she would support adding a new tax on ICE detention centers in the state.
- One woman is dead and another woman is in custody after a Friday afternoon shooting in South Philadelphia. An investigation is underway.
- New Philadelphia-area cardiovascular surgery centers offer lower-cost outpatient procedures, pulling profitable cases from hospitals and adding financial pressure on health systems.
- The Wallingford-Swarthmore school board approved a plan last week to cut nearly 20 positions as it tries to reverse what officials have called a trend of unsustainable spending.
- Philadelphia Museum of Art is bringing back “pay-what-you-wish” admissions Friday evenings starting April 10.
- New emails show Jeffrey Epstein repeatedly claimed he funded a “quantum gravity program” at the University of Pennsylvania, but he confused the school with Penn State. Also, a Cheltenham school may switch school picture companies due to an Epstein connection.
- Almost Home General’s Old City coffeehouse closed this week, capping a complicated two-year joint venture between the chain and the troubled restaurant group Glu Hospitality.
- Johnny Gaudreau’s family traveled from the Philadelphia area to Milan to watch Team USA win Olympic gold and honor the late hockey star. Johnny’s widow, Meredith, told us how they got there.
❓Pop quiz
In a time when many kids are glued to screens, this educational magazine is still thriving and reaching the lives of millions of children after 80 years — straight from the Poconos.
A) National Geographic
B) Highlights Magazine
C) Zoobooks
D) Brainspace Magazine
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re …
⛰️ Planning: A scenic spring road trip for mountain luxury in Bedford Springs.
🐢 Savoring: Bourbon chicken, snapper soup, and cinnamon buns round out some of the best things we ate this week.
🏠 Learning: How Snacktime’s bassist landed this spacious rowhouse.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: King of Prussia-based wedding dress retailer
ADD RIVAL BIDS
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Bobbi Harris, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Cochranville. More than a decade in the making, the 300-year-old village in western Chester County is moving toward its first public water line.
In other Chesco news: Area pet sitters are watching more than dogs and cats. These days, animal care means looking after more chickens, goats, and sheep.
🌷 Photo of the day
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Philadelphia Flower Show is back, full of colors, scented exhibits, flowery crowns, and roots.
From the Shakespearean production pictured above to a city citation, Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr insists we don’t miss these exhibits at this year’s show.
And if you’re curious about what the Flower Show looked like before it opened its doors, check out these snaps by staff photographer Tom Gralish.
🎶 Today, we’re remembering Neil Sedaka by listening to this song: “They say that breaking up is hard to do / Now I know, I know that it’s true.”
One more musical thing: Mount Airy rapper KUR put us on to his special pick for a late-night fresh fruit stop, and it’s not Wawa.
👋🏽 Thanks, as always, for starting your morning with us. Have a great day.
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