Author: Paola Pérez

It’s Saturday.

Snow is a near certainty this weekend, with a winter storm watch starting early Sunday for the Philly area. Coastal flooding is possible at the Shore. Resident weather expert Tony Wood (or “AccuTony,” as we like to call him) has the forecast details.

Philly runs on Wawa. What endears people to the store? Scroll along for a deep dive into how hometown fans fuel the beloved chain’s success, and our staffers’ takes on its food quality over the years.

Plus, we’re talking about a battle of the beer festivals brewing in Philadelphia, a new all-day cafe dosing drinks with controversial psychoactive plants, and our report card for this week in news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• The Supreme Court ruling against President Trump’s global tariffs is good news, Pennsylvania lawmakers say. The state’s dairy industry has suffered. And in other federal news, a judge ruled that the Trump administration doesn’t need to finish restoring the President’s House for now.
• A 260-apartment development, largely composed of one-bedroom units, is the latest residential project slated for Ridge Avenue in East Falls.
• Several Quakertown High School students were taken into custody on Friday after a student walkout protesting federal immigration enforcement escalated into a confrontation that left at least one teenager bloodied and in handcuffs, according to witnesses and video footage from the scene.
• Philly Bierfest and the NYC-rooted Philly Beer Fest will be held on the same date this year, and their names sound nearly identical, but the similarities mostly end there. One wants the other to stop confusing customers.
• Two men have been arrested after breaking into a Lululemon store in Ardmore and allegedly stealing nearly $11,000 in merchandise, police said.
• A man was arrested after he allegedly placed hidden cameras inside restrooms at a Gloucester County barbershop where he worked.
• A new all-day lounge in Old City is betting on kava and kratom to pull crowds away from bars. The substances are associated with stress relief — and health risks.
• Haverford College could convene a committee to review whether U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s name should remain on the campus library, following newly revealed details of the mega-donor’s ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The school has also vowed to amend its events policy after a disturbance at a talk by an Israeli journalist.
• Tired Hands Brewing has turned its original Ardmore outpost into a private event space, for now, as its owner navigates the future of the beer company.
• Chicken bones, potholes, Bruce indoors, and a rush to book the Shore — this week’s Philly Report Card grades the city’s late-winter mood.

Quality check

Loyal customers in the Philadelphia area love Wawa. But as the chain grows, its expansion has tested the brand. With shifting menus and quality, how does it keep people coming back? To find out, consumer reporter Erin McCarthy spoke to the experts about Wawa’s “secret sauce” and how it set a national standard for success in the convenience store industry.

And for a dose of hometown critical analysis, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss polled features columnist Stephanie Farr, programming editor Tommy Rowan, and deputy food editor Jenn Ladd. They sound off on Wawa’s transforming food quality, and whether or not it’s changed too much, for better or for worse.

Got thoughts, opinions, or other ideas for topics we should debate? Send in your suggestions here.

One viewpoint

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson gets into the numbers of the state of crime, public transit, and the economy in Philadelphia.

“Homicides are down, SEPTA ridership is up, and the city’s job growth proves unsurprising,” Pearson writes.

Get Pearson’s perspective on where these and other metrics stand.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this lion is grazing? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A new streaming series that tells the story of America through the lens of Philadelphia

INUIT SPUR

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

Cheers to Kate Vengraitis, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Chris Rabb. The state representative from Northwest Philadelphia said he will not seek reelection while he runs in the Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District.

We were there

Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, better known as La Scala, is one of the world’s most famous opera houses in the world. It’s a popular stop for Winter Olympics spectators when they’re not at a sporting venue.

If it looks familiar, it’s no coincidence. Philadelphia’s Academy of Music was designed after La Scala.

My colleague Ellen Dunkel, who is in Milan covering the Olympics, takes us with her to the theater that inspired our own.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

Have you seen these brightly colored apartment buildings in North Philadelphia? It sure seems like SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward relocated from Bikini Bottom.

While we’re talking colors, check out this stunning Eagles green painting of the Ben Franklin Bridge. One Reddit user said it “should be the Pantone color of the year.”

And watch out, Bella Vista: A new driver is hitting these ruff roads. Could he be with the “Philadelphia Barking Authority”?

👋🏽 Have a good day, OK? I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.

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.

Good morning.

We’re promised a sunny Saturday with a high near 44.

The snow, which is melting at a historically slow pace, has reached a 65-year milestone in Philadelphia for the length of time spent with at least three inches still on the ground.

Did an Inquirer reader cross the line by hitching a ride from a kind stranger? Who was responsible for the uncomfortable trip?

Scroll along to read our advice chat, as well as details of a new bill that could help save historic Jersey diners, ChatGPT’s “opinion” of Philadelphia, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

What you should know today

• State Rep. Chris Rabb reported his now-former campaign treasurer to the feds. He is in a competitive primary for Philly’s open congressional seat.
• A Philadelphia jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $250,000 to the family of a York County woman after finding the company’s baby powder product caused her fatal cancer.
• Children ran from a Lindenwold bus stop in a panic on Thursday when an ICE operation was carried out nearby. About 60% of the district’s students are Hispanic. Also, in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he plans to fight the development of warehouses into ICE detention centers.
• In recent years, a string of iconic diners in New Jersey have shuttered their doors. New state legislation aims to keep the lights on at those still in business.
• The daughter of man who prosecutors say ran a human trafficking ring in Northeast Philly pleaded guilty to helping manage the finances of the criminal organization.
• An Abington high school principal was placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into “inappropriate” social media posts.
• A Pennsylvania company has pleaded guilty to a crime stemming from its work installing hundreds of illegal video gambling devices across the state — but charges will be dropped against the owners.
• Two Jersey brothers discovered their ancestors came to the U.S. on a schooner that was illegally transporting enslaved people. A new film tells their story.
• Philadelphians are annoying, but we have the best sandwiches and iconic branding, according to a new analysis into ChatGPT’s views. Here’s how it ranks us and other cities.
• From Philly’s Super Bowl cameo to the emotional investment in avian domestic life, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of our region.

Carpool courtesy

Consider the following problem, presented to us by a reader:

A friend and I were waiting for Regional Rail for Center City when the announcement came that the train was canceled. It being freezing weather, I asked other passengers what their transit apps were saying, and what their plans were. A man said he was planning to drive to Center City, and his car was parked in the lot. Before I could stop myself, I asked for a ride. His wife did not like the idea, giving a wide-eyed look, but the man agreed after hesitating.

The husband was very nice, as was the car, but the wife was irritated the whole way into the city — she never said hi or introduced herself and when we tried to include her in the conversation, she sat silent.

Was it weird for me to ask for a ride or was it weird for her to treat us like a nuisance?

For this tricky situation, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss recruited features columnist Stephanie Farr and food and dining reporter Beatrice Forman. They hit several key points: the kindness of strangers, Philly’s helping spirit, and the importance of reading the room. To them, it sounds like all parties involved left the wife out in the cold.

“My 2026 resolution was to be less of a hater and I do fear this question has set me back,” Beatrice said.

Read along for my colleagues’ verdicts. And if you’re looking for advice, we’re all ears. Send in your pressing Philadelphia problems here.

One viewpoint

As more fare-evasion-resistant gates pop up at SEPTA stations, some riders look to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s efforts to make bus fares free, and wonder why Philadelphia can’t do the same with its transit.

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson considers the suggestion: “While that all sounds exciting, it isn’t a good idea. Especially not here,” Pearson writes.

Get Pearson’s take on the cost of free rides, along with his thoughts on the city school district’s facilities plan “going the way of SEPTA’s Bus Revolution.”

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this cherry blossom-filled kiss took place? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly places to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A new European destination from PHL

TROOP

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

Cheers to Jan Dalina, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Limerick. Sheetz opened its first Philly-area store in the Montgomery County township — right across from a Wawa. The rivalry rages on. Or, as reader Gerry Frank put it, “Bad for Wawa but good for customers.”

💡 We were there

Staff photojournalist Monica Herndon captured these ice sculptures made by artist Emily D. Stewart in Narbeth. Their days are numbered as temperatures rise, making them an “ephemeral” art form.

Stewart said she was inspired to craft them after reading about Swedish lanterns.

“I love working with snow in my yard or other public places because it is inherently social,” Stewart said. “As I work, people walk by, cars pull over. I get to have conversations with neighbors and meet new friends.”

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

It seems like it was just yesterday that we shared theories of what Nick Castellanos might have said or done to get benched. Now, Phillies fans are bidding him adieu. “This feels like the new Jersey Shore note,” commented Q102 Philly radio host @rach_ontheradio.

The new Sheetz is also a big talker on our Instagram. Among the hilarious reactions on FOX 29’s Facebook: “Sheetz is just Wawa with a deep fryer.” “this was the first shot in the Gastaurant wars.” “Are you Sheeting me?” (lol)

Abbott Elementary posted some cute candygrams for Valentine’s Day.

And as we continue to thaw out, let this reel be a reminder that we’ll be rewarded real soon.

👋🏽 That’s it for now. I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.

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.

Good morning, Philly. The brutal, gusty cold continues.

In Sunday’s main read, pop critic Dan DeLuca explores a growing wave of pop-music dissent.

And with the prospect of a hotel potentially replacing the old Gillian’s Wonderland Pier, the neighborhood in its shadow fears losing its quaint Ocean City feel — and sunrise views.

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

A new era

Is protest music back? The answer seems to be yes.

From Bad Bunny’s vow to protest with love to a more confrontational approach by Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen, music has seen an emerging resistance to the Trump administration and what critics call overreaching immigration enforcement.

Drawing from a longtime tradition, Springsteen is leading the way in the current trend toward musicians opposing the government in song. In “Streets of Minneapolis,” he expresses outrage at the deaths of protesters at the hands of federal agents.

And now, all eyes are on the Super Bowl, which could be another stage for that pushback to be on display.

Dive in with Dan DeLuca.

🎡 Eclipsing Wonderland

🎤 Now I’m passing the mic to Amy Rosenberg down the Shore.

Marie Crawford was immediately charmed in 2021 when she and her soon-to-be-surfer husband Rich moved into their historic house in the literal shadow of Gillian’s Wonderland Pier.

They’d come from Blue Bell, Pa., to live year-round by the ocean, and landed with an amusement park right up the street.

“The ball drop, that was what we heard from my house,” she said, referring to the 130-foot-high Drop Tower ride. “It was, ‘Ah, ah, ahhhhhhhh,‘” she said, imitating the screams she would sometimes hear.

“It was so beautiful and romantic. On our porches, we would hear the ocean, not the amusement park. There were families, babies in strollers, coming up the street, flowing up to Wonderland. We were kind of ambassadors.”

Now, more than a year after the closing of Gillian’s, the residents are faced with the possibility of a seven-story hotel they fear will block their sun, bring traffic to their streets, and threaten the small-town charm they found in their little pocket of Ocean City. — Amy Rosenberg

Hear why some in the community believe “the tone of the neighborhood” could dramatically change.

What you should know today

• Sen. John Fetterman is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to halt its plan to develop two ICE detention centers in Pennsylvania, citing a strain on local resources and negative impacts on communities.
• A statue of Harriet Tubman will debut at City Hall this fall. The city is taking submissions from Philadelphians for a quote to be displayed on it.
• Harsh winter conditions are taking a toll on robins, opossums, and other animals in the Philly region. In Cape May, nearly all woodcocks were wiped out.
• One Tun Tavern will open in Old City after all. A long-running legal fight over the reproduction of the Marine Corps’ birthplace has been settled.
• Knitters and crocheters are turning out scads of red wool hats, a symbol of resistance to ICE in Minneapolis. They’re appearing atop heads in Philadelphia and across the country.
• After her frozen car in Fishtown garnered tens of millions of views on TikTok, Tianna Graham is getting a new car for free through Carvana.
• Firefighters found the body of a man inside a North Philadelphia home that caught fire. It’s the third fatal blaze this year.
• Members of the public in Norristown are demanding answers after a police cruiser responding to a 911 call struck a naked man standing in an intersection.
• The Philadelphia region could expand its “eds and meds” identity as local colleges compete for more defense-related research and job training funding.
• Rebecca Campbell, a former longtime Walt Disney Co. executive who has also worked in local television in Philadelphia, has joined The Inquirer’s board of directors.

❓Pop quiz

Before she was the chef at Kalaya, what was Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon’s former occupation?

A) opera singer

B) flight attendant

C) bookkeeper

D) train conductor

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🏔️ Exploring: Skiing, cozy dining, and historic estates in this snowy New England escape.

🏠 Curious about: How an “impulsive” decision led to a West Philly dream home in our latest “How I Bought This House.”

🍄‍🟫 Savoring: The bloom shroom at Manong, among the best things we ate this week.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Nonprofit system (two words) 🏥

FEATHER JOH SHELF

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

Cheers to Patrick Kerwin, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Roxborough. A large apartment project for the Northwest Philly neighborhood was changed to add more family units and appease other concerns

🪗 Photo of the day

Philadelphia’s own Don Bitterlich helped the Seattle Seahawks get on the board in the team’s first NFL season in 1976, but the 72-year-old really made his name playing the accordion.

🎶 Today’s song sounds like: “Youth’s like diamonds in the sun / And diamonds are forever.”

👋🏽 Thanks for starting your day with us. Julie will bring you tomorrow’s news bright and early. Until then, have a good Sunday.

Welcome to February.

Sunday is set to be partly sunny, and wind chills from an offshore storm will make it feel subzero in Philly. The Shore is expecting minor flooding, made potentially worse by the full moon.

In today’s main read: A Grammy-nominated music producer and engineer calls Philadelphia “the indie music capital of the world.”

Further on, we unravel questionable deals for student rentals around Temple University that have raised concerns about potential mortgage fraud.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Philly’s ‘ultimate hype man’

From a young age, Will Yip dreamt of working in music. Tonight, he could go home with his first Grammy.

Yip is a go-to collaborator for acclaimed bands like Philly’s Mannequin Pussy and Baltimore’s Turnstile. He recorded Turnstile’s breakthrough Never Enough in Los Angeles, which netted five Grammy nominations.

But even without his first golden gramophone, the producer will come back home to his new state-of-the-art studio in South Philadelphia, ready to cook up more bangers.

In Yip’s own words: “Everyone is like, ‘Bro, why are you building a million-dollar studio? Aren’t studios dying?’ They are. But my brand of music, that I’m lucky enough to work with, is flourishing. Rock is back. I’ve waited my entire life for this, for people to want electric guitars. I’ve felt it bubbling for the last 10 years. And now it’s happening.”

Pop critic Dan DeLuca has the story on Yip’s road from Philly to the Grammys.

Plus: Here are our Grammy predictions (and a little rant in defense of country music stars), and a shout-out to Philly rapper Eve, who finally got recognition for her verse on “You Got Me” by The Roots and had kind words for her hometown.

Mortgage scheme

An Inquirer investigation found that Philly-area real estate agents brokered $45 million in questionable deals for student rentals around Temple.

The findings: More than two dozen professionals helped arrange the sale of apartment buildings at inflated prices. These rentals had sat on the market for months, then abruptly sold for about double their asking prices.

The key player: Patrick C. Fay of Coldwell Banker was involved in every deal. After The Inquirer published a report concerning 33 of Fay’s deals around Temple, Coldwell cut ties with him. But Fay had a counterpart on the other side of every transaction, including agents at Coldwell and other major brokerages.

The impact: These sales raise concerns of mortgage fraud and could affect property assessments and tax bills, and lead to foreclosures. Records show at least one such property has gone into foreclosure over an unpaid mortgage.

Uncover the full report from Ryan W. Briggs and William Bender.

What you should know today

• Some Philadelphia high schools reported difficult conditions Friday as a bitter cold snap gripped the region. Classrooms at one storied magnet fell to “untenable” temperatures below 40 degrees.
• The dangerous cold also saw nonprofits field hundreds of calls for shelter and outreach workers to help Philadelphians experiencing homelessness move into warming centers.
• The U.S. Senate passed a bill late Friday to fund the federal government, but a short-term shutdown still went into effect Saturday. Sen. John Fetterman crossed the aisle to vote for the compromise bill. Here’s how other local senators voted.
• A recently engaged South Philly couple rang in the new year in Puerto Rico. A wrong turn led to an ambush, and only one made it home.
• A former Philadelphia medic is accused of taking money from a 72-year-old woman’s wallet after she was pronounced dead at her Center City apartment.
• A judge ordered former Philadelphia Art Museum director and CEO Sasha Suda to submit her wrongful-termination claim to arbitration under her employment contract, rejecting Suda’s bid for a jury trial.
• As Gov. Josh Shapiro criticized federal agents, a Republican challenger for his seat says Minnesotans — and Pennsylvanians — should cooperate with ICE.
• The NBA suspended 76ers forward Paul George for violating its antidrug policy, dealing a significant blow to the team’s season. He will miss 25 games without pay.

An enduring vision

Before February was Black History Month, it originated from Negro History Week. It was founded in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, the child of two formerly enslaved parents.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially expanded its recognition.

Born from an effort to encourage Black people to learn and reflect from history, it would become a project between Woodson and Black schoolteachers.

In a column for The Inquirer, educator Rann Miller explores the origins of Black History Month and its enduring legacy in Philadelphia and beyond.

❓Pop quiz

To Provenance chef Nicholas Bazik, this place is “as close to a perfect diner as it gets.”

A) Silk City

B) Broad Street Diner

C) Sulimay’s

D) Bob’s Diner

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: One of the most memorable moments in Eagles history

APPLY CHILLIES

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

Cheers to Lynne Wlodarczyk, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Curtis Institute. The Center City music school is in the early stages of dreaming about the eventual use of the beloved Art Alliance building on Rittenhouse Square.

Photo of the day

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “Please, don’t fall in love with everything on opening night / Flashback to infinity, just one more time.”

One more musical thing: A dozen Mummers string bands got their encore at the chilly Linc on Saturday. Thousands of people cheered them on “like it’s New Year’s Day all over again.”

👋🏽 That’s it for now. Thanks for stopping by this morning, and have yourself a great day.

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.

Welcome to Sunday.

One progressive lawmaker has become a prominent voice in City Hall. We examine how she charted a new path to power.

But first, a massive winter storm is sweeping through the Philly region. As conditions grow icier by the minute, we’ve got you covered with important information and guides below, and all the latest updates at Inquirer.com.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Snowpocalypse now

Philadelphia is weathering its most significant winter storm in years. The threat of heavy snowfall and potentially dangerous icing prompted a citywide emergency and a winter storm warning through early Monday afternoon. All schools are closed Monday.

Forecasts say 6 to 18 inches of snow is possible across most of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Philly is expecting somewhere between 6 and 10 inches.

Though exact amounts are never fully certain, one thing is for sure: It will not melt soon. The bitter cold will stick around for several days.

🔍 Use our map to see how much snow is expected in the Philly region.

🛷 Once it’s safe to go outside, bundle up and make the most of the snowfall at some of the area’s best sledding spots.

🪏 And before you grab the shovel, we explain how to do it safely and give you the rundown on Philly’s snow rules.

⏰ Could this storm break records? Take a look at the top January snowstorms in Philadelphia history.

Get more from resident weather expert Tony Wood, and be sure to visit Inquirer.com for developments.

‘Thought leader’

🎤 Now I’m passing the mic to City Hall reporter Anna Orso.

When Mayor Cherelle L. Parker unveiled her much-anticipated plan to address Philadelphia’s housing crisis last year, there was predictable criticism from the political left. Activists said the proposal drafted by the moderate Democrat would not do enough for the city’s poorest residents.

Less predictable was that a majority of City Council stood with them.

Even the Council president, a centrist ally of the mayor, sided with a progressive faction that just two years ago had been soundly defeated in the mayor’s race — but whose new de facto leader in City Hall has proven adept at building alliances across the ideological spectrum.

At the center of that shift was Jamie Gauthier. — Anna Orso

Read along to learn how the second-term Democratic lawmaker from West Philadelphia has solidified her place as a leading voice on Council.

What you should know today

• Philadelphia parents are worried and shocked over the school district’s proposal for closings, colocations, and other changes would affect children in every neighborhood in the city. “That can’t happen,” one told The Inquirer.
• Michael Coard, a leader in the fight to memorialize enslaved people at the President’s House in Philadelphia, is launching a new campaign to restore the dismantled slavery exhibit and keep it on Independence Mall.
• Federal immigration officers shot and killed a man Saturday in Minneapolis, as hundreds of people protested in the cold in a city still reeling from another fatal shooting weeks earlier. The man, identified as Alex Pretti, was an intensive care nurse at the Veterans Administration who was troubled by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, according to his family.
• Very little is publicly known about Jonathan Gerlach, the Ephrata man accused of stealing human remains from Mount Moriah Cemetery. Here’s what we have learned about him.
• In Camden, incoming state-appointed School Superintendent Alfonso Q. Llano Jr. says it’s too soon to know if more budget cuts will be needed after the district cut nearly 300 jobs last year.
• Collingswood Mayor Daniela Solano-Ward settled a conflict-of-interest lawsuit by agreeing to void her vote and recuse herself from decisions on an ambulance-services contract with Virtua Health, which employs her husband.
• One of Kennett Square’s last remaining sizable undeveloped parcels could get hundreds of townhomes and apartments — but only after a former industrial site is decontaminated.
• The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts has named art museum veteran Kristen Shepherd as its next leader.

❓Pop quiz

Swedish retailer Ikea, which has its U.S. headquarters in Conshohocken, announced this week that it is testing an immersive product experience on which platform?

A) Minecraft

B) Roblox

C) Fortnite

D) Vegas Sphere

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Tokyo bar and shrine to the city of Brotherly Love (two words)

HILL PHOBIA SHINNY

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

Cheers to Geraldine DiPersia, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Will Shortz. The New York Times crossword editor and NPR puzzle master is moving the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament to Philly next year.

Photo of the day

Emilio Mignucci, the third-generation grocer of Di Bruno Bros, is synonymous with cheese in Philly. He recently took us through his favorite places to grab a bite on a perfect Friday in the city.

🎶 Today’s song goes like this: “The things we do for love / Like walking in the rain and the snow / When there’s nowhere to go…”

One more thing: Food writer Kiki Aranita has a reminder to boot: “If you’re ordering delivery from any restaurant or local business, remember to tip your delivery person extra — especially if they dash through the snow and arrive at your house on a re-purposed ATV.”

👋🏽 How will you pass the time indoors today? Let me know. I plan to eat soup and (finally!) finish Task. Thank you for checking in this morning, and may you be safe and warm.

Good morning.

The bitter cold is here, and a winter storm is on the way. The latest forecasts call for more ice in Philadelphia. Be sure to visit Inquirer.com for weather updates.

Does a week at the boardwalk beat a trip to the ballpark down South? Inquirer staffers make their case for the better vacation option.

Plus, there’s news about a grocery store chain collecting biometric data, the aftermath of the removal of slavery exhibits at the President’s House, and our report card for this week in Philly-area news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

What you should know today

• All Philadelphia schools will be closed Monday. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. said he wants students to focus on having fun after the incoming snowfall.
• The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the suspension of a former Philadelphia judge who was ejected from the bench in 2024 after refusing to stop posting political statements on Facebook.
• Wegmans recently started collecting shoppers’ biometric data at its New York City stores, but the company won’t say if it’s happening at Philly-area locations, too. And in other grocery store news, more options are coming to Chester County this year.
• Parents and teachers at Southwark School in South Philadelphia are sounding an alarm about building conditions, including mice, graffiti, and broken bathrooms.
• Philadelphia-based telecommunications giant Comcast is one step closer to settling class-action lawsuits for $117.5 million over a data breach that potentially impacted over 30 million customers.
• The abrupt removal of all exhibits about slavery at the President’s House Site on Thursday has rocked the city. Philadelphians are asking: What could happen next?
• The developer behind a massive mixed-use project in South Jersey has filed a lawsuit accusing a “rogue” employee of derailing municipal approvals and plotting to steer the property to Rowan University and a rival firm.
• A Florida fraudster who fooled 60 mostly Philadelphia-area investors into contributing $5 million to develop biometric anti-addiction systems was sentenced to 5½ years in prison.
• Remnants of a 19th-century shipwreck washed up on a New Jersey beach after weeks of erosion from high winds and rough surf.
• How did Philly get dragged into a Palm Beach reality show? Catch up on this and more among the good, bad, and weird from the region’s recent stories.

Spring training vs. peak Shore summer

We’re answering this reader question: What’s a better vacation: a week at the Jersey Shore or spring training in Clearwater? (It’s real chilly out. Of course you’re thinking about warmer environments.)

To reach a verdict, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss recruited regular Shore-goer and past spring training attendee Sam Ruland, as well as Shore resident and correspondent Amy Rosenberg. They get to the core of the decision: the timing, the costs, and what either trip delivers.

For instance, Rosenberg notes that there’s “almost nothing” happening down the Shore in February or March, so maybe baseball is your best bet. Then Ruland points out how one can gain something different from each experience: “Spring training wouldn’t fill the void of missing a week down the Shore in the summer,” she said.

In their chat, Rosenberg also shared an incredible life hack to save money while traveling to Florida.

Read along for my colleagues’ full discussion. And if you’re looking for advice (or just want to share your takes), we’re all ears. Send in your pressing questions here.

One viewpoint

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks a compromise agreement between Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and City Council that would make Parker’s $800 million H.O.M.E. proposal a reality.

Get Pearson’s perspective on the return of City Council and much more.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this person is waiting for the bus? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: New York Times crossword editor and NPR puzzle master

STROLL WHIZ

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

Cheers to Joann Polk, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Stixers. The Sixers’ drum line provides opportunities for young people in the city, alongside bringing the team’s game-day beat.

We were there

The Sixers beat the Rockets, 128-122, on Thursday night. Between “vintage” Joel Embiid out in full force and Kelly Oubre Jr. showing why he should stay in the starting lineup, it was a thrilling overtime victory.

See more in our roundup of the week’s best Philly sports photos.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

To the tune of Semisonic’s “Closing Time,” people are paying respects to Drexel’s shuttered Wawa.

A.J. Brown has been low-key since the Eagles’ season came to an end, but a video of him making a kid’s day in Miami is making the rounds on social media.

And I’m not even going to try to describe what happens in this recent chaotic Gritty video, but the caption sums it up pretty well: “shoey? no, leggy.” As my favorite comment put it, this couldn’t be more Philly if you tried.

👋🏽 Time to bundle up. Enjoy your Saturday, and I’ll catch up with you 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.

Good morning. More snow is expected across the region today.

Prior to the explosion of a nursing home in Bucks County last month, the facility was cited for multiple violations. Our main Sunday read examines the safety lapses that preceded the deadly incident, as well as the records of other homes in Philadelphia and surrounding counties.

And while Ocean City will never be the same without Gillian’s Wonderland Pier, boardwalk merchants are holding on — and they want a say in what comes next.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Repeat citations

Three people died after a natural gas explosion flattened Bristol Health & Rehab Center just before Christmas.

While the cause has not yet been determined, an Inquirer data review found that state regulators had cited the facility for over 70 health and safety violations in the three years leading up to the tragedy.

Highest in the region: The Bristol facility that exploded has been hit with $418,000 in fines since 2023, more than any nursing home in the Philadelphia area.

All other offenders: In the same time span, almost half of the Philadelphia-area’s 182 facilities have faced over $5 million in financial penalties for safety violations.

Reporters Lizzie Mulvey and Harold Brubaker break down the details on other regional nursing homes that have been fined, and the history of inspections and citations at the Bucks facility.

In related news: Muthoni Nduthu, a nurse who was killed in the blast, was laid to rest Saturday. She was memorialized by family, friends, and a nurse honor guard as a dutiful nurse and faithful mother.

‘They have galvanized us’

🎤 I’m passing the mic to Amy Rosenberg down the Shore.

Along the commercial stretch of Ocean City’s boardwalk, from Sixth to 14th Streets, there are 167 storefronts, including four Kohr Bros. Frozen Custards, three Johnson’s Popcorns, three Manco & Manco Pizzas, and eight Jilly’s stores of one type or another.

There are eight mini-golfs, nine candy shops, 18 ice cream places, 10 pizza shops, 18 arcades or other types of amusements, five jewelry stores, three surf shops, five T-shirt shops, and 47 clothing or other retail shops. There is one palm reader.

Even without Gillian’s Wonderland Pier, the iconic amusement park at Sixth Street that famously closed in October 2024, it still adds up to a classically specific, if repetitive, Jersey Shore boardwalk experience. Many of the shops are owned by the same Ocean City families, some into their third generation.

But now these very shop owners are sounding the alarm.

“This is a group that’s been hanging on for a long time,” Jamie Ford, owner of Barefoot Trading Co., at 1070 Boardwalk, said in an interview last week. “These places are hanging in there. They’re not going anywhere, but we’re nervous.” — Amy Rosenberg

Read on to learn why the merchants are urging city officials to green-light a plan for a hotel at the Wonderland site.

What you should know today

• Two Philly-area children’s hospitals are under federal investigation for their gender-affirming care for transgender children.
• Police are investigating the cause of a deadly three-car crash on Lincoln Drive on Thursday night.
• Bensalem Township police arrested two men and a 17-year-old boy for allegedly stealing $16,000 worth of weight-loss drugs being delivered to a pharmacy.
• Small-business advisers and advocates in Philadelphia are bracing for a big tax headache as the city’s municipal tax expands to cover tens of thousands more small businesses and self-employed workers.
• A federal lawsuit alleges misconduct by two Pennsylvania state troopers who investigated the case of a former pastor who was acquitted of a 1975 killing.
• In an interview with Pennsylvania’s two U.S. senators, CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil asked about “extreme rhetoric” in Minneapolis. Here’s what Dave McCormick and John Fetterman said.
• Springfield Hospital has a new buyer: the same local investor group that bought Taylor Hospital in September.
• The universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education were flat-funded this year for the first time since 2021-22. They’re preparing for another enrollment cliff.
• An Old City establishment now offers a GLP-1 menu, making it one of the country’s first full-service restaurants to do so. It’s part of a trend of restaurateurs adapting to diners’ shifting preferences amid economic uncertainty and the rise of appetite-curbing medications.
• Center City District Restaurant Week returns Sunday for the first time in a year, with 120 restaurants offering fixed-price lunches and dinners — the largest lineup since the pandemic.

❓Pop quiz

The Inquirer will make an appearance in an upcoming episode of which TV series?

A) The Pitt

B) The Paper

C) Abbott Elementary

D) The White Lotus

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Drag queen repping Philly on RuPaul’s Drag Race

GYM MADONNA

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

Cheers to Chris Lewis, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Inglis House. Five residents of the home for people with severe physical disabilities are taking classes at Community College of Philadelphia. It’s the largest group to start since the 1990s.

📼 Photo of the day

This is Charlotte Astor, a high school junior from Cherry Hill. She’s trying to track down a long-lost demo tape recorded by her mom’s band in the ’90s. The hardcore community banded together to help Astor on her quest.

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “As crazy as it may seem / I will change my whole life today.”

👋🏽 This newsletter is taking a break in observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We’ll be back in your inbox bright and early on Wednesday. Until then, stay warm and take care.

Rise and shine, Philly.

Some snow is expected Saturday, but exactly how much is still up in the air.

In today’s edition, we’re talking about a new podcast that explores the city’s influence on a late filmmaker’s distinct style.

But first, there’s good news on students’ academic performance, another historic event added to the city’s busy schedule this year, and our weekly report card for the latest regional news.

Read on 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

• Philadelphia students are performing the best they have in math in years. There has been steady improvement since the pandemic.
• North Philadelphia restaurant Bella Vista is temporarily closed after a fire caused severe damage to the building on Friday morning.
• Police are investigating whether a string of Philadelphia murders of workers in the towing industry are connected.
• Federal grant recipients faced fresh uncertainty this week as $2 billion in mental health and addiction grants were abruptly cut and then restored with little explanation. Meanwhile, Philly groups secured about $3 million in new grants despite recent cuts and an uncertain future.
• About 70,000 Pennsylvania residents have dropped health coverage through the state’s Pennie marketplace, with sharp price hikes on the horizon.
• The Franklin Institute is debuting an “immersive multimedia show” about Ben Franklin on Saturday, marking his 320th birthday.
• A group seeking to open a charter school on the Valley Forge Military Academy campus has withdrawn its plans as Radnor pursues eminent domain.
• Apartments have come to Suburban Square, the first of their kind in the Ardmore shopping destination.
• Subaru Park will host the inaugural Women’s Lacrosse League championship in August, during the Philadelphia Waterdogs’ homecoming weekend.
• From Philadelphians saying goodbye to Ranger Suárez to rejecting a vibes-only Wawa, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.

This week’s obsession

Friday marked one year since the passing of David Lynch, the cult-classic filmmaker and onetime Philadelphian known for his beautifully strange storytelling. Lynch being one of my favorite directors, I got really excited to hear about Song of Lynchadelphia, a new deep dive into the profound impact this gritty city made on him and his artistry.

Lynch, a PAFA alumnus, would not have made films if it was not for the time he spent in Philadelphia in the mid-1960s. He called it one of “the sickest, most corrupt, fear-ridden” cities, as well as one of his “greatest influences.”

Podcast host Julien Suaudeau, a writer and film professor at Bryn Mawr College, said Song of Lynchadelphia explores “the encounter of the 1950s American innocence with a place where the dream had already, and very concretely, turned into a nightmare.” These themes are notable in projects like Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks.

The unsettling feeling of something lurking below the surface is pervasive in Lynch’s works. I personally enjoy any opportunity to learn how his cinematic universe came together, and how his foundational Philly years led him to become a key fixture in the world of surrealist American film.

One viewpoint

In the aftermath of Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal making national headlines for her comments about ICE, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson argued that Bilal’s point is moot as she is unable to protect Philadelphians from the agency.

“Americans take their heroes where they can get them, but they should look past Philly’s sheriff,” Pearson writes.

Get Pearson’s perspective in this week’s Shackamaxon, as well as thoughts on SEPTA’s starts and stops, and America’s 250th birthday celebrations.

📍 Find the location

Think you can pinpoint where this car-free recreational spot can be found? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A Philly home for people with severe physical disabilities

ELUSION SIGH

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

Cheers to Kathleen Wersinger, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Charles Dickens. Philadelphia’s favorite Victorian novelist made his second, and final, visit to the City of Brotherly Love on this week 158 years ago.

🔔 We were there

On Friday, the city revealed the 22 large replica Liberty Bells that will be installed across Philadelphia this year as part of the city’s Semiquincentennial celebration.

Each painted bell depicts the histories, heroes, cultures, and traditions of Philly neighborhoods. Here’s where you can find them this spring.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

Vintage Philadelphia posted a picture of 15th and Chestnut in the 1940s. Recognize anything? 😉

Why are Redditors so excited about University City’s new Taco Bell? Food writer Beatrice Forman looked into it.

Over on Instagram, people are reacting to the Phillies re-signing J.T. Realmuto to a three-year, $45 million contract. Comments range from excitement (“I love this and tolerate no JT slander. This man needs to retire with Philly”) to ambivalence (“Happy for my mom, I guess”).

And Jimmy King shared some stunning sunset photos, with an encouraging reminder: “Longer and warmer days aren’t too far away.”

👋🏽 May your day be a good one. I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.

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.