Author: Paola Pérez

Good morning. It’s finally Friday.

Our top story looks at how Philly-area governments are (or aren’t) working with federal immigration agents.

We’re also following a basketball gambling conspiracy that federal prosecutors say involved tens of thousands of dollars in bribes and millions in fraudulent bets, some of which were placed in Philly.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Taking a stand

Between the newly inaugurated Bucks sheriff canceling an agreement with ICE and Haverford Township banning participation in such deals, top officials across the region are taking a stand against cooperation with ICE.

As they grapple with ever-shifting policies, here’s a brief overview of how they’re handling interactions with federal immigration authorities.

In Philadelphia, ICE is still active, but President Donald Trump has not sent troops as he has to other major cities. Philly calls itself a “welcoming city,” and a 2016 directive orders authorities to not comply with ICE-issued detainer requests unless there is a judicial warrant.

In Bucks County, sheriff’s deputies are no longer allowed to act as immigration officers. However, it is not a sanctuary county, and its corrections department will still share information with federal agencies, including ICE.

In Montgomery County, officials approved a policy that limits communication with ICE, but no formal ordinance labels it a sanctuary or welcoming county.

Politics reporter Fallon Roth explains county-level immigration policies and what local leaders are saying about ICE.

And in related news: The judicial district that oversees the Philadelphia court system says that the authority for managing ICE’s controversial presence at the Criminal Justice Center rests on Sheriff Rochelle Bilal and that decisions around that are her “sole responsibility.”

‘Historic’ gambling case

Federal prosecutors charged dozens of people Thursday in a wide-ranging scheme to fix basketball games in the NCAA and China.

Some of the bets in the “point-shaving” operation, placed at Rivers Casino in Philadelphia, were for hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to U.S. Attorney David Metcalf.

Who was charged: Twenty basketball players and six so-called “fixers.” They are accused of crimes, including bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud. A number of Division 1 college players from programs including Northwestern State University and La Salle University were reportedly involved.

How they allegedly did it: The fixers would bribe players to underperform in games, then bettors would wager against that player’s team and collect millions in illicit winnings, Metcalf said.

Chris Palmer and Ryan W. Briggs have the story.

What you should know today

• Nearly 20 people witnessed an assault in the Cheltenham High football team’s locker room last fall, and no one tried to stop it, according to an external investigation.
• The Norristown Hospitality Center, a nonprofit day shelter for people experiencing homelessness, will shut down if it can’t find a new home quickly.
• A Republican state senator from Allentown called Philadelphia a nasty word. He doubled down on his remarks despite heavy backlash from prominent Philly Democrats.
• Penn has refused to comply with a federal subpoena seeking a list of Jewish students and faculty as part of a federal antisemitism investigation. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing the university for the data.
• Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration sued a former vendor for failing to deliver 3.4 million pieces of state agency mail to residents. In Shapiro’s first public remarks on the matter, he called the situation “absolutely unacceptable.”
• Families have flooded Yeadon police with concerns for their buried dead after more than 100 human remains were stolen from Mount Moriah Cemetery.
• Emergency medical services at Riddle Hospital in Media will be rebranded as Main Line Health EMS. The seven-ambulance fleet serves Main Line’s four-hospital system.
• Two former employees described safety issues and a culture hostile to women in their lawsuits against Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey.
• Rosemont College’s accrediting body has asked the school for information on its student records and finances and policies “to ensure truthfulness in public relations announcements.”
• Love City Brewing will take over a historic two-story building on Main Street in Manayunk.

Plus: Why isn’t the Philadelphia Art Museum more lit up at night?

Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.

This week, we’re resurfacing an explainer from reporter Michelle Myers on why the Philadelphia Art Museum looks so dull and dim at night after a reader lamented the “shyness of such a gorgeous building.”

The reason it is kept looking gloomy in the dark involves infrastructure, money, and negotiations. Here’s the full story.

Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.

🧠 Trivia time

Erin Andrews’ coat at the Eagles-49ers game stole the show. What was it made of?

A) Chinchilla

B) Vintage mink

C) Eagle feathers

D) Faux fur

Think you got it? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.

What (and whom) we’re …

🏅 Honoring: These Eagles with end-of-year awards and other superlatives.

✅ Noting: What’s open and closed in the Philly area on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

⚽ Interviewing: USMNT stalwart Antonee Robinson, whose return to action for Fulham shows what the U.S. has missed.

😋 Discovering: How a crusty, crackling bun topping traveled from Mexico to China — and where to eat them in Philly.

⚾ Getting to know: The Phillies’ new 17-year-old center fielder Francisco Renteria, a top international prospect.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Philadelphia’s favorite Victorian novelist

CHASED CRINKLES

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

Cheers to Tommy Joyce, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Brent Celek. The former Eagles tight end is using his platform to raise awareness on men’s health.

Photo of the day

Thanks, as always, for reading. Have a great weekend.

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.

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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Welcome to Sunday. The clouds should part for some sunshine today.

Philadelphia’s ramen power couple are getting ready to reboot their noodle game in Japan. They took restaurant critic Craig LaBan on a slurping tour of their favorites abroad.

And anti-ICE protesters swept onto the streets of Philadelphia on Saturday, with more demonstrations expected today. Clips of Sheriff Rochelle Bilal calling the agency “fake, wannabe law enforcement” went viral over the weekend.

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Thriving in noodle paradise

They set the gold standard for ramen in Philadelphia at Neighborhood Ramen in Queen Village, which closed at the end of 2024. Now, Lindsay Mariko Steigerwald and Jesse Pryor are living their best lives in the ramen capital of the world.

🍜 Their move was driven by a desire to make their famed noodles alongside the best, as well as to explore and enjoy the upper echelons of Tokyo’s artisan ramen.

🍜 It will likely take many more months before they can open up shop there. In the meantime, the duo have launched ramen tours, which map out a taste of their favorite spots.

🍜 Pryor told Craig LaBan: “I want to eat ramen every day. I want to go to different shops all the time, be inspired and just soak it up. It’s hard to do that in Philadelphia.”

Join LaBan for a taste of their fledgling ramen tour.

‘ICE out’ protests

Demonstrators took to Philadelphia’s streets and those of other cities across the country on Saturday in response to the killing of Renee Good by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis this week.

Activists have condemned the fatal shooting as evidence of a violent federal agency, while Trump administration officials insist the agent who shot Good three times had fired out of self-defense.

More rallies are planned on Sunday in communities including Trenton, Abington, Cherry Hill, Ardmore, and Ambler.

Read more in Michelle Myers and Jeff Gammage’s dispatch from Philly’s Saturday protest.

In related news:

• As the Trump administration sends more federal officers to U.S. cities, a local resurgence of the Black Panthers militant group is making its presence known in Philly.
• Sheriff Rochelle Bilal has made headlines and invoked criticism for sending a blunt warning to immigration officers who commit crimes in the city.

What you should know today

• A man was charged with stealing skulls and bones from a Philly cemetery. Police say he may have tried to sell them on Instagram.
• A Philadelphia man who went by the alias “YP SlumBoy” was arrested Thursday by U.S. Marshals and charged with killing the mother of his child, tampering with evidence, and other crimes.
• Investors have turned vacant Exton office buildings into a suburban rarity: 24 studio and 8 single-bedroom apartments.
• It’s no secret that Philly has an action-packed year ahead, but there’s more happening beyond the FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th birthday celebrations. Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr lists 14 other events to look forward to.
• The playoffs are finally here, as the Eagles officially kick off their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions on Sunday at the Linc against the 49ers. Use our quick viewer’s guide to get ready for the game.
• When we debated the best ways to snuff out bad SEPTA etiquette, you responded with your own ideas. Here are our favorite suggestions from Inquirer readers on how to handle subpar public transit manners.

❓Pop quiz

Which billionaire is behind a plan to redevelop much of downtown Gladwyne?

A) John Mars

B) Jeff Bezos

C) Jeff Yass

D) Elon Musk

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This New-York born author “took to Philly like a fish to water” 15 years ago.

CAMERA SADE

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

Cheers to Bernice Kaplan who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: East Falls. Crust Vegan Bakery has relocated to a larger location in the Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood.

🦅 Photo of the day

This Birds devotee has made a name for himself on social media through his Eagles-centric parodies, to the tune of popular songs by Billy Joel and Hall & Oates. His many fans include the famously estranged duo, as well as Questlove and State Rep. Joanna McClinton.

⚽ One more sports item to go: England’s famed Premier League gets a lot of coverage in the United States. But there’s nothing like seeing the spectacle in London, especially as races for World Cup squads play out on PL stages. Soccer reporter Jonathan Tannenwald has the story from the capital city.

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “The thrill, unknown, you will or you won’t / A dream to try for, hope that you’d like more.”

👋🏽 Thanks for spending part of your morning with us. Go Birds.

Good morning. Grab an umbrella on your way out — Saturday’s forecast calls for showers throughout the day.

Today, I’m talking about bars swapping liquor displays for vinyl records.

Plus, there’s news on a convenience store chain officially encroaching into Wawa territory, a secret menu sandwich that’s making a Philly restaurant TikTok-famous, and our report card for this week in Philadelphia news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• A $11.5 million beautification and anti-graffiti project to clean up Philly is underway ahead of an event-packed summer.
• A longtime Philadelphia resident who was arrested by ICE at a routine immigration appointment was deported to Indonesia, his family said, leaving behind his wife and two children who are American citizens.
• Sheetz is set to open its first Philly-area store next month — across the street from an existing Wawa.
• A New Jersey school resource officer faces charges of misconduct and child endangerment after an altercation with a juvenile in 2024.
• 72-year-old Marie Scott started her new life in Philadelphia this week, months after her life sentence for a murder was commuted.
• A Renoir painting was removed from the Barnes’ walls last year. Now it’s coming back with brighter colors.
• For the first time in the tournament’s history, cities are charging World Cup fans to attend FIFA fan festivals. Philly will not be one of them.
• A Scranton neighborhood group put up a “hometown hero” banner for Joe Biden outside of his childhood home. They expected a bit of blowback, but what was initially political has turned into a veterans’ issue.
• Grad Hospital takeout shop Falafel Time has long had a secret menu, but now that crispy shawarma has gone viral, one of its if-you-know-you-know sandwiches has become a hit.
• Between barrel fires resurfacing on Ninth Street and an “Avoid Philadelphia” road sign going viral, catch up on the good, bad, and weird in the latest stories out of Philly.

Immersive music experiences

This week, food writer Kiki Aranita put the spotlight on vinyl, hi-fi sound, and cocktails fueling a growing wave of listening bars in Philadelphia.

Heralded as the “antidote to the loneliness,” these immersive, sonic experiences are popping off here and across the country. They are places where shelves are stacked with less liquor and more records, your DJ might also be your bartender, and you might discover music for the first time.

Spots like 48 Record Bar in Old City and Solar Myth on South Broad are just two examples of participants of the listening room boom in Philly. They integrate music into drinking experiences beyond a run-of-the-mill playlist humming in the background of a typical bar. These lounges spin curated collections through high-fidelity sound systems, and put people onto everything from small, avant-garde artists to local musicians.

And while Aranita notes that “thoughtful, elevated beverages still reign,” I imagine bars swapping alcohol for vinyl can be an added benefit if you’re sober-curious this Dry January.

Is 2026 the year of the listening bar in Philly? Read on to learn how they operate here, and why Japanese “jazz kissas” cafes play an influential role.

One viewpoint

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier wants to produce more affordable housing. But her policy may be doing the opposite, argues Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson.

“When it comes to public policy, good intentions are not enough,” Pearson writes.

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Pearson tackles what happens when City Council members try to use a bad practice to serve the public good, and explores the kickoff of the race for Pennsylvania governor.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this mural is located? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly places to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood

FALSE SALT

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

Cheers to Mary Liz Jones who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Petty’s Island. The 300-acre island in the Delaware River is now owned by Venezuela’s Citgo, but will soon likely belong to a major conservative donor’s firm.

We were there

Hundreds of fans attended the Flyers’ first-ever Phish Night at Stateside Live! on Thursday. Tribute band Rift performed a 90-minute pregame show as well as a postgame concert. Get a recap of the event from sports reporter Ariel Simpson and photographer Yong Kim.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

Shoutout to Tricia for this adorable art of Snoopy in a Phillie Phanatic suit.

Over on Facebook, Taqueria Amor patrons expressed appreciation for the Main Street restaurant. “We’re really excited for 2026 as we have an exciting announcement over the next few weeks,” chef Tim Spinner wrote on the post. We’ll be on the lookout for developments. 👀

And a Redditor flagged something weird going on with our mobile app: “Why does the Inquirer need 12 GB?” Rest assured, our next app update should fix the space-hogging problem. Senior software engineer Joe Russell’s theory for the bug made me lol: “Because we digitally encoded Gritty and now he lives in your phone.”

👋🏽 Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day, and I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.

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Welcome to a chilly and partly sunny Sunday.

It’s the first weekend of 2026, marking the start of a busy year ahead for the city of Philadelphia. Before everything — and everyone — gets here, we asked readers to share ways they think the city could improve. After more than 600 submissions, Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr presents your wishes.

We’re also following developments, and state and local reactions, after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro early Saturday.

Read on for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Big ideas for a big year

Philly is preparing to welcome the world for the nation’s Semiquincentennial and a handful of major sports events in 2026, like the FIFA World Cup.

At the request of Stephanie Farr, readers sent in suggestions for things the city should create, destroy, or fix in advance.

Some dreams were lofty — it’s unlikely we can “turn Regional Rail into a German-style S-Bahn by next year,” as Farr noted — while others aim to turn up the fun, aesthetics, and educational entertainment.

Here’s a preview of what you came up with:

💡 On the simpler side, restaurants could offer meals for $17.76, and the William Penn statue would be illuminated atop City Hall at night;

💡 Fun activities include a tour and music festival highlighting The Sound of Philadelphia artists, or transforming Headhouse Square into a “European-style plaza”; and

💡 Off-the-wall-ideas mention an “Epcot Village” that could show off our diverse food-and-drink scene, and an official SEPTA cheesesteak joint.

See the full list compiled by Farr.

Attack on Venezuela

The United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a military operation early Saturday. They face criminal charges in connection with an indictment by the U.S. Justice Department accusing them of a narco-terrorism conspiracy.

President Donald Trump, who called the strike a success, said the U.S. would temporarily “run the country” and sell its oil abroad.

Philadelphia reacts: The Venezuelan community expressed a mix of hope and concern for the future, and a cohort of area politicians denounced Trump’s actions.

Escalating pressure: Here’s a timeline of the buildup and strikes on Venezuela leading to Maduro’s capture.

Closed airspace: The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily banned U.S. airlines from flying near Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and other parts of the Caribbean through Sunday.

Visit Inquirer.com for the latest updates.

What you should know today

• A suspect in a West Philadelphia carjacking briefly stole a Philadelphia police car in the city’s Frankford section Friday night before finally being arrested.
• Shoppers across Philadelphia are increasingly favoring secondhand and lightly used items in an effort to save money and live more sustainably.
• Bucks County agreed to pay nearly $1 million to a woman with serious mental illness who was pepper-sprayed and restrained for hours in jail.
• Police said a pit bull attacked three other dogs and two owners in Center City in three separate attacks in the week after Christmas.
• Montgomery County’s bipartisan board of commissioners is expanding homelessness services with a plan to open three short-term shelters by the end of this year.
• Steve Sweeney, who finished last in the Democratic primary for New Jersey governor in June, has landed a six-figure salary in a newly appointed role with Gloucester County.
• Over Jim Donovan’s 22-year long career at CBS Philadelphia, fans sent him thousands of socks. The former anchor set a Guinness record with his collection.

❓Pop quiz

This Philly-based restaurant chain continues to expand nationally, with 71 existing locations across the country and plans for 18 more in 2026.

A) Goldie

B) Honeygrow

C) Taco Heart

D) Federal Donuts

Think you got it right? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Host on 92.5 XTU, Philadelphia’s country music station

AI CHECK MILLION

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

Cheers to Charlene M. Wiltshire who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Wynn Thomas. Once a theater kid from West Philly, the Hollywood production designer has won an overdue Oscar at 72.

❤️‍🩹 Photo of the day

This is Ray, a 7-year-old goat at the East Germantown nonprofit Philly Goat Project who helps bring comfort to people. After experiencing a rough 2025, Ray needs assistance moving about. Loving volunteers and a wheelchair are helping make that possible.

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “Our love is rhythm and charm, it resonates / In every space, it fills the place.” Legendary singer Jill Scott (aka “Jilly from Philly”) is out with a new single as an offering from her first new album in more than a decade.

👋🏽 That’s all for now. Take care, and have a great day.

Good morning. It’s set to be a mostly cloudy Saturday with a high near 33.

Today, we’re talking about the pure love that poured out from the Mummers Parade.

But first, we have updates on disruptions coming to SEPTA’S Fox Chase Line, another Philadelphia bar that has gone to the dogs, and the Philly area’s first babies of 2026.

Let’s get into it.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• Expect service disruptions starting Monday on SEPTA Regional Rail’s Fox Chase Line as crews install new tracks. Shuttle buses will replace midday trains for several weeks.
• The Boozy Mutt, Fairmount’s pup-friendly pub, is closing its doors Saturday after just over two years in business. Its owners cited rising costs as a factor.
• Philadelphia recorded 222 homicides in 2025, which is the fewest in more than half a century. Officials caution that the improvements are fragile.
• Police have arrested a California man in connection with the hit-and-run death of a man who was riding an e-bike in South Jersey this week.
• Suraya, the Michelin-recognized Lebanese restaurant in Fishtown, closed temporarily after a nearby rooftop fire left the restaurant without gas.
• Henry Schamp was the Philadelphia area’s first baby of 2026, born at the stroke of midnight. Meet Henry and several others who were welcomed into the world with sparkling fireworks outside their window.
• Former Phillies star Lenny Dykstra was arrested for drug possession during a traffic stop just after midnight on New Year’s Day in Northeastern Pennsylvania, state police said.
• A lawsuit by a violinist accuses actor and musician Will Smith of sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation over the course of a 2024 tour.
• A shopping center near downtown Phoenixville recently sold for nearly $7.4 million. The fully occupied property is less than a mile from the borough’s bustling downtown.
• How much caring is too much caring? A reader asked The Inquirer for advice on keeping their New Year’s resolution to not let Philly team losses ruin their day. Here’s what we recommend.

A romantic Mummers

When considering the good, bad, and weird in the region’s latest happenings, editor Sam Ruland looked to two special stories out of the Mummers Parade that captured hearts across the city of Philadelphia.

The nation’s oldest folk parade drew thousands who braved the bitter cold and high winds to participate in the annual tradition. Unfortunately, those winds prevented the string bands from competing, marking the first time in Mummers history that was suspended.

But because this is Philadelphia, the show still went on, and we got to see uplifting things happen amid the dancing, sequins, and feathers: There was a couple who got married in the middle of the parade, and an adorable Mummers-obsessed 93-year-old Welsh grandma who flew here to finally see them in person. A uniquely Philly love was palpable at the event, now in its 125th anniversary.

“This New Year’s Day delivered a reminder of what this thing actually is: unshakable, irrational, deeply sincere devotion,” Ruland writes. Both stories earned an A+.

Catch up on these stories and more from this week in Philly news.

One viewpoint

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson proposes some New Year’s resolutions for key players in City Hall, Harrisburg, and everywhere in between.

For instance, Pearson argued City Council should work toward eliminating micromanagement, and called on SEPTA “to stand and deliver.” Read his suggestions to state and local leaders, including a bonus resolution for everyday Philadelphians.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this was taken? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly locations to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Hollywood production designer from West Philly

MONTHS YAWN

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

Cheers to Melissa Pergine, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: Manayunk. Acclaimed gluten-free bakery Flakely will move from an industrial kitchen in the Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood to a bigger storefront in Bryn Mawr by February 2026.

🎤 We were there

The free New Year’s Eve concert in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum was a frigid, fireworks-filled affair, kicking off the city’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday.

LL Cool J and DJ Jazzy Jeff headlined the show, with Philadelphia-based rapper Freeway making a surprise appearance just before midnight.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

Why is Wawa called Wawa? There are degrees of knowledge to unpack here, so WHYY’s Avi Wofman-Arent walked us through the lore (with some Sheetz shade to boot).

Streets Dept posted a crabby art installation at Washington and Passyunk Avenues. The video title is timeless: “Philly is not a real place.”

Meanwhile, Philadelphians on Reddit are talking about Stranger Things apparently confirming “Philly is the center of the universe.” Spoilers ahead: This is why fans are buzzing about the finale.

One more thing: Before I let you go, allow me to congratulate my colleague Diane Mastrull on her retirement. She is a longtime editor of this newsletter and a titan of journalism and public service. This edition is the last to be expertly edited by her eagle eye. Thank you, Diane.

👋🏽 Thanks for stopping. See 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.

A wintry mix of snow and sand-like sleet was forecast for the region through Saturday morning. Check Inquirer.com for updates.

Should you stash or trash a present that missed the mark? We helped a reader navigate what to do with a very Philly gift they did not like.

But first, let’s cover why some residents say they are dissatisfied with living in Philadelphia, what we know about the first tenant coming to the Bellwether District, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• Philadelphia nearly ranked last in a recent survey that asked residents of 65 large cities how satisfied they were with where they lived. Some neighborhood leaders shared what they believe it would take to change that.
• The 10-year-old boy who was severely burned when a jet crashed in Northeast Philly reunited with the bystander who saved him. They hadn’t seen each other since that night in January.
• Two brothers and their nephew nearly died in the fatal explosion that rocked a Lower Bucks County nursing home facility on Tuesday. From the hospital on Christmas, they shared how they survived.
• The story behind New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill’s landslide victory last month can be understood by looking at her strong performance in the city of Camden. Dive into an Inquirer analysis of municipal-level data.
• Big Charlie’s Saloon, a haven for Kansas City Chiefs fans in South Philly, has permanently closed after the recent death of owner Paul Staico.
• The site of the shuttered Iron Hill Brewery in West Chester is officially seeking a new tenant. The building owner said the goal is to “find something similar,” though not necessarily a brewery.
• A Powerball ticket purchased in Northeast Pennsylvania netted a $1 million prize in the lottery’s Christmas Eve drawing.
• A California-based canned beverage company is expanding operations to the East Coast. Here’s why it picked Philadelphia for its new factory.
• From Primo Hoagies covering big-dog adoption fees to Philly’s ever-lengthening commute, catch up on the good, bad, and weird in the region’s latest stories.

Go Birds … but not on my table

What’s the polite thing to do after receiving a gift you didn’t want? Things can get dicey when you add in-laws into the mix.

Someone asked The Inquirer: My mother-in-law gifted me an ugly Eagles table runner. Do I have to keep it? My first thought was that any superstitious fan may feel it’s bad luck to hide or get rid of it. But let’s be real: Other Philly teams could use a miracle right now.

To help this reader out, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss recruited life and culture reporter Zoe Greenberg and senior video editor and producer Astrid Rodrigues. They debated whether it’s worth putting it out just once or even holding onto it at all. You just might need it for an Eagles-themed party.

I’m partial to Rodrigues’ take: give a polite “thank you,” then do as you wish with it. If it wasn’t my style, I’d try to regift it to someone I know would love it. Greenberg made this timeless point of one man’s trash being another’s treasure: “Someone might love to find an ugly Eagles table runner on the street, so it’s like a beautiful gift you’re passing along.”

But what if the mother-in-law comes over one Sunday and asks about the gift? Read on for my colleagues’ full conversation. And if you have a pressing Philly issue you need advice on, we’re happy to help. Send in your questions here.

One viewpoint

Despite growing anti-consumerist sentiment toward the holidays, the National Retail Federation expected a record-setting $1 trillion to be spent nationwide on consumer goods this season.

In a column for The Inquirer, B.G. White argues in favor of holiday shopping as an extension of the spirit of giving, even though critics say it can conflict with some religious values.

“Rather than dismissing holiday shopping as a symbol of materialism and excess, I have come to view it as an expression of generosity that captures the purpose of the season,” White writes.

Read on for his perspective on liking the commercialization of Christmas.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this photo was taken? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly locations to the test. Try your best guess here.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This holiday song was composed in a Philadelphia church for the Christmas season in 1868

BOLT HOLE ONE TIME TWELFTH

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

Cheers to Michaelene Fanelli, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: The End of an Era. We tracked all the Philly connections in Berks County native Taylor Swift’s new docuseries.

We were there

Thousands crowded into the Grand Court of the Wanamaker Building on Christmas Eve for what could be the last chance to behold the light show. Mike Newall and Tyger Williams captured the beloved holiday tradition in this story.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

Local hiker Walter Zolna shared some incredible sights of Wissahickon Valley Park blanketed in snow last Sunday, paired with the sound of “nature’s perfect silence.”

No Shorts and ChaseU came together to bring us “A Very Philly Christmas Song.”

And the Phillies’ holiday offering adds a Great Christmas Tree Adventure to the Phanatic’s lore.

👋🏽 Thanks for stopping by. Stay warm, and I’ll catch you here again tomorrow.

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Welcome to a brisk, mostly sunny Saturday.

In today’s edition, we’re addressing a seasonal situation: the neighborly approach to snow shoveling.

But first, we’re covering Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s State of the City speech, how to avoid the stomach bug that recently hit one area school hard, why you may hear a different voice calling the Flyers game on 97.5 this weekend, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

Read on for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• In her second year-end speech, Mayor Parker portrayed the city as safer than when she took office and outlined a plan for homelessness.
• A Montgomery County school district is seeking to fire a principal for reported antisemitic remarks.
• Dozens of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable residents say they lost medical care without notice after millions of state agency letters weren’t sent.
• The Flyers and 97.5 The Fanatic have suspended play-by-play man Tim Saunders for two games after he made an inappropriate comment during the broadcast of Thursday’s Flyers-Sabres game.
• A South Jersey school was hit with an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness last week, as cases of norovirus, a common stomach bug, recently surged nationwide. Here’s how you can protect yourself.
• A Philadelphia man was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison this week for commissioning people in Indonesia to torture monkeys on camera.
• The Trump administration proposed new rules to prevent hospitals from providing gender-affirming care to minors. The move could have consequential implications for CHOP.
• A long-promised Philadelphia Housing Authority mixed-income tower will begin construction early next year in Center City.
• Philadelphia was the only big city to rank on Zillow’s list of the most popular real estate markets of 2025. Affordability, the main driver of popularity, helped push Philly up the list.
• Between Wawa taking Sheetz to the cleaners and Donna Kelce on The Traitors, catch up on the good, bad, and weird in the latest stories out of Philly.

The sidewalk snow debate

After it snows in Philly, sidewalks must get shoveled clean. It’s a city rule that could result in fines if not followed.

There are right (and wrong) ways to do it, but what happens when we add community courtesy into the mix? A reader asked: “I usually shovel beyond my own sidewalk, but my younger neighbor only does his patch. Am I expecting too much from him?”

To settle the issue, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss brought in editors Sam Ruland and Tommy Rowan. The Philly natives hashed out whether or not the responsibility to wipe the walkway ends at your property line, and how standards have changed over the years.

On Sunday, I gladly let some neighbors borrow my shovel to clear their front steps or even dig cars out, but I’ve definitely noticed when people push the white stuff to a precise fault line. I saw people recently express frustration online over folks not cleaning off block corners, and confusion over one neighbor piling a bunch of snow in front of their car. (And in case you were curious, we already handled the savesies situation.)

Between Sam’s and Tommy’s verdicts, one thing is for certain: It’s a bit weird to stop at the exact margins of your home, and Philly might be silently judging you for it. This quote from Sam will live rent-free in my head: “I don’t shovel because I love it. I shovel because I fear the block.”

What about the right price to pay kids eager to get the job done? You’ll have to 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

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson reflects on political theater at the glitzy Pennsylvania Society dinner, and the discovery that “Champagne, cigars, cocktails, and filet mignon” are apparently essential to productive bipartisanship.

Read on for Pearson’s experience at the signature gala, along with thoughts on what City Council has been up to (including a new bill to ban residential development in one area), and what Pearson calls an example of positive preservation.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this Christmas tree is located? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly places to the test. Try your best guess here.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: New Year’s Day tradition

MAURER SPAMMED

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

Cheers to Amanda Costello, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Bryn Mawr Film Institute. The beloved Main Line theater turned 20 this year. Here are 20 iconic movies from its history.

We were there

Staff photographer Monica Herndon captured the moment Rabbi Yitzchok Gurevitz lit the menorah at Canal View Park on Thursday night, the fifth night of Hanukkah. The lighting was hosted by Chabad-Lubavitch of Northwest Philadelphia.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

We’re nerding out over this Eagles fan’s website tracking Tush Push data across the NFL. (It also points out which of the teams attempting to use it may or may not have also voted to ban it.😉)

Do our crosswalk indicators have Philly accents? I don’t think you’re imagining things, @thrashertv.

People are loving this sweet proposal as seen through South Street Sam’s lens.

And shoutout to Mike on X for managing to squeeze Phillies lore into 280 characters. Go Phils.

👋🏽 Thanks for stopping by this morning. Let’s do this 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.

It’s finally Friday, Philly.

Rains and strong gusts could impact your travel. A high wind advisory is in effect for the entire region.

Things can get chaotic with Christmas around the corner, but these local Santas wouldn’t trade the hustle for anything.

And while some Philadelphia architects take a standard, fast-casual approach to designing rowhouses, a few are bringing back one Romanesque feature.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘It melts my heart’

Donning the red suit and transforming into the jolly character can be a grueling grind. It can mean sacrificing time with loved ones and running on little sleep.

But local Santas do it year after year, and it’s not because it pays big bucks — some even do it for free. Each has their own reason, but they share one thing in common: It’s the holiday magic that makes it worthwhile.

In one Santa’s own words: “The hugs you get from the little kids, or to have a 5-year-old child run to you and [yell] ‘Santa!’” it melts my heart,” said 71-year-old Paul Bradley, or “Santa Paul,” of Mantua. “That’s why I do it.”

And sometimes, that special magic gets returned to them, too.

Allow reporters Erin McCarthy and Ariana Perez-Castells to introduce you to several Philly-area Santas, and hear their tales of the chaotic, magical world of being Old Saint Nick at Christmastime.

The urge for the curve

You may have noticed more contemporary arches and rounded corners around the city. Architecture critic Inga Saffron says it’s because the arch is making a comeback.

With origins in the Roman times, arches no longer serve much purpose in the structural sense. But Philadelphians started sneaking them back into architecture as early as the 1960s, Saffron writes.

Today, more are throwing a curve into the mix, though Saffron points out that these new-wave arches only faintly resemble their predecessors.

Continue reading on the history of the arch and its revival.

What you should know today

• SEPTA’s largest union has agreed to a new contract with the transit authority. The deal will deliver a 3.5% pay raise, bolster pension funds, and expand health benefits for new employees.
• Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. was acquitted of child endangerment and related crimes Thursday after being accused of repeatedly assaulting his teenage daughter.
• Experts in fugitive apprehension say Philadelphia deputies appear to have made serious tactical errors while trying to apprehend a wanted man Monday, which enabled him to speed away in his car.
• A 2-year-old girl was beaten to death in South Philadelphia last week, police say, and three people have been charged in connection with the crime.
• A Malvern man who brought weapons to a “No Kings” protest in West Chester — and who was rearrested when police found homemade bombs at his house — has pleaded guilty in federal court.
• President Donald Trump announced he would advise federal agencies to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug and ease restrictions. Here’s what that means.
• Two Philadelphia men are facing federal charges in Minnesota after authorities said they fraudulently obtained more than $3.5 million in government proceeds in a long-running “fraud tourism” scandal that has drawn the ire of President Donald Trump.
• Nonprofits ChristianaCare and Virtua Health dropped negotiations to join forces. A merger would have created a healthcare system with more than $6 billion in annual revenue and business in four states.
• European cargo ships are rerouting to Philadelphia as Baltimore struggles to replace the Key Bridge, whose collapse 21 months ago crippled ship traffic to that city’s harbor.
• A data center planned for the Pennhurst State School and Hospital site will now move forward in a monthslong, multistep process. A Wednesday meeting turned heated with yelling residents prompting officials to call for a break.

Plus: What’s the meaning behind the Cherry Hill library sculpture?

Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.

This week, we have an explainer from reporter Henry Savage about the sculpture on the Cherry Hill Public Library lawn. Since its installment in 2009, the 8-foot-tall “Totem” gives people pause to try and decipher its meaning.

Crafted by the award-winning sculptor David Ascalon, it turns out its meaning is in the eyes of the beholder. Here’s the full story.

Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.

🧠 Trivia time

During her first interview on Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show, Taylor Swift referenced a photo from 2001, at age 11, performing at this local spot:

A) Reading Terminal Market

B) A Phillies game

C) An Eagles game

D) A Sixers game

Think you got it? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.

What we’re…

🕎 Remembering: The likely first public menorah was lit on Independence Mall.

📝 Scoring: How Jersey Shore towns are faring in the off-season.

🍷 Curious about: More wine clubs popping up around Philadelphia.

✅ Noting: What’s open and closed on Christmas Day in the Philly area.

😋 Keeping: These five Philly restaurants on our radar, because Craig LaBan said so.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: The _ _ Film Institute, a beloved Main Line theater

BRAWNY MR

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

Cheers to Kathy Wersinger, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Liz Moore. Another book by the South Philly author is heading to the small screen.

Photo of the day

One more story to go: A Cobbs Creek man recorded thousands of basketball broadcasts onto VHS tapes for five decades. His grieving family wants to pass them on to someone who appreciates them.

Thank you for reading. Be safe out there, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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.