Good morning, Philly! Ready for another rainy day? Be prepared to break out the umbrellas for the rest of the week. ☔

Some workers say DA Larry Krasner has put up roadblocks to securing a union and taken positions that the workers see as at odds with his public image as a leader of the city’s progressive movement.

Philly chefs are taking brunch, once the most dreaded offering, seriously — but not too seriously. A handful of local restaurants have reimagined the genre and the results are delicious.

Plus, a rowing program for breast cancer survivors is set to compete across the pond, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

‘He is not pushing for us’

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has long said he’s a friend to organized labor. As prosecutors in his office are gearing up for an election to authorize their union, Krasner has said their efforts could ensure his own legacy. But not everyone in his office is feeling the support.

More than 100 lower-level employees in the District Attorney’s Office, including paralegals and victim and witness coordinators, are separately trying to secure their own union — and some say they’re meeting resistance.

Several workers said that Krasner’s administration has put up roadblocks and taken positions that they see as at odds with his public image as a leader of the city’s progressive movement.

And meanwhile, the lower-level employees say there’s been a separate Wild West-style standoff between two unions, which are both vying to represent them.

The Inquirer’s Anna Orso has more information.

🥐 A brunch renaissance in Philly

🍳 The golden age of brunch has arrived in Philadelphia, borne on the menus of chefs who are reinventing the genre.

🥞 All over the city, chefs who had long focused on dinner are turning their attention to brunch-specific menus, some available just one day a week. The results are dazzling.

🥓 To many in the restaurant industry, the very word brunch conjures up feelings of dread. The stigma against the not-quite-breakfast, not-quite-lunch meal, often accompanied by endless mimosas, has endured. Until now.

☕ Rice & Sambal’s brunch-specific snacks, savory items, and sweet dishes are extensive. They range from crispy tofu to lumpia (vegetable and bamboo-stuffed spring rolls) to a Sumatran rendang. And La Jefa’s brunch features Guadalajaran twists on American brunch standards, like chilaquiles tucked into omelets.

What you should know today

• Five people were arrested ahead of Philadelphia’s July Fourth celebration after protesters attempted to set an American flag on fire, according to police.
• A Northeast Philadelphia mosque was damaged in an arson attack early Sunday morning, authorities said, rattling the city’s Islamic community.
• The president and CEO of Welcome America Inc. has resigned, and while the reasons were unclear, the announcement followed the city’s decision to take over Philly’s Fourth of July concert and fireworks from the organization that has organized it since 1993.
• Fresh off the first playoff berth of his career, Tyson Foerster locked in his future with the Flyers, last week signing an eight-year extension with $7.1 million average annual value.
• Ring of Honor, a wrestling promotion under the AEW banner that was founded in Philadelphia, will return to the city on Aug. 21 to host its pay-per-view event, Death Before Dishonor, at the 2300 Arena for a second consecutive year.

Quote of the day

WeCanRow-Philadelphia is a rowing program through Whitemarsh Boat Club for breast cancer survivors. While the program focuses on mental and physical healing for those treated for breast cancer, the participants are competitors, too. From July 10 to 12, Whitemarsh Boat Club will have three boats compete at the Henley Masters Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, England.

🧠 Trivia time

Which of these NBA players played for both the Sixers and the Celtics?

A) Moses Malone

B) Dana Barros

C) Allen Iverson

D) Hal Greer

Think you know? Check your answer. And be sure to take the rest of our quiz to test your Sixers knowledge.

What we’re…

🐮 Obsessed with: The Bradford County dairy cow beauty pageant! The last one took place 100 years ago.

⚾ Learning: Everything we need to know about baseball’s best coming to Philly for the 97th All-Star Game.

⛹️ Celebrating: The official addition of Jaylen Brown to the Sixers. He was was acquired in exchange for Paul George and four draft picks.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Sportscaster and radio play-by-play announcer for the Phillies

ETC FRATS ZONK

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

Cheers to Gerald Frank, who solved Monday’s anagram: Benjamin Franklin. Philly held a Ben Franklin look-alike contest on the eve of Independence Day. ‘Twas glorious.

Photo of the day

👋 Have a great day, folks! Stay dry.

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! Welcome to the start of a new week.

While Philadelphia and school district officials have celebrated a deal to save 340 classroom jobs, teachers and staff members face continued uncertainties in an already tumultuous hiring season.

In other news, the newly elected sheriff of Delaware County, Siddiq Kamara said he was motivated to run after his cousin, Fanta Bility, was killed by Sharon Hill police while leaving a football game in August 2021. “The people in Delaware County, I’m here to work with them,” he said.

Plus, some Philly residents are questioning the late July Fourth fireworks, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

‘I’m on this roller coaster’

When a deal was struck to save 340 classroom-based jobs in the Philadelphia School District, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. declared it “Christmas in June.”

It’s July now, but staffers still don’t have clarity on exactly who’s allowed to come back to positions that were almost cut, and how that affects vacancies systemwide.

Monique Braxton, the school district spokesperson, said the system is “moving forward with restoring the approximately 340 school-based positions approved in the revised budget,” but that staffing the positions is separate from restoring them.

The complex process is causing additional uncertainty for teachers and staff members, and prolonging an already tumultuous hiring season as the district deals with fallout from 17 forthcoming school closings and the back-and-forth over millions in cuts stemming from a $300 million district budget deficit.

The Inquirer’s Kristen A. Graham has the full story.

There’s a new sheriff in town

Siddiq Kamara remembers standing side by side with his aunt outside of the Delaware County courthouse and calling for changes in how police are trained, after a stray bullet fired by Sharon Hill police officers killed his cousin, Fanta Bility. Three years later, Kamara’s office is inside that same courthouse.

Kamara, 30, became the youngest sheriff in Delaware County history when he cruised to victory in November with 63% of the vote. He’s a born-and-raised Delco native who turned his family’s tragedy into a platform for improving the way community policing is carried out in his home county.

Notable quote: “This is the greatest country in the world. Being 30, being Muslim, being a first generation immigrant, and being the sheriff of one of the biggest counties in Pennsylvania, it’s unheard of. And I don’t take that lightly.”

In his first six months in office, Kamara has equipped all of his deputies with body cameras and beefed up recruiting efforts, including opening fitness tests throughout the county to help fill the 35 vacancies he inherited. He’s mandated de-escalation and regular firearms training for his deputies, in memory of his cousin.

Vinny Vella has more on Kamara’s inspiring story.

What you should know today

• Linemen, call center workers, and other Peco employees went on strike over the weekend. The roughly 1,500 unionized workers, part of IBEW Local 614, officially walked off the job, becoming the first employees to strike in Peco’s history.
• U.S. men’s soccer team star striker Folarin Balogun will be available to play in Monday’s World Cup round of 16 game after all.
• University of Pennsylvania physician Anuja Dokras spent the last 14 years working to rename a common medical condition that can impact fertility in women, called polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS.
• City officials have estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have flocked to the monthlong World Cup watch party, which started in mid-June and is set to run through mid-July. But last week, some Brewerytown business owners said they had yet to reap the benefits.
• The Trump administration will not seek new bids to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Sunday as he faced new questions about the troubled project and the taxpayer money involved.

Quote of the day

City officials originally planned for Fourth of July fireworks to go off around midnight, but because of weather delays, the show didn’t start until roughly 2:30 a.m. Some residents are questioning that choice, but the city said safety was a big factor.

🧠 Trivia time

Which celebrity duo was just married at Madison Square Garden with actor Adam Sandler officiating?

A) Taylor Swift + Travis Kelce

B) Zendaya + Tom Holland

C) Rihanna + A$AP Rocky

D) Kylie Jenner + Timothée Chalamet

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🤔 Wondering: Was it rude to turn down a Fourth of July barbecue because it’s 1,000 degrees outside? You asked, we answered.

🌎 Learning: Where tourists are traveling from to visit Philadelphia for the World Cup. As it turns out, Ecuador was one country where travel surged.

🏡 Impressed by: A man cut his rent by $2,000 a month. Within months, he had saved enough to buy his own house in Southwest Philly.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: One of the Founding Fathers of the United States

INN LANK BENJI FARM

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

Cheers to Brian Lowy, who solved the last anagram: Danny’s Guitar Shop. The destination for Main Line musicians closed its doors after 17 years.

Photo of the day

📸 One more thing: Check out what else our photographers saw over the weekend.

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Gerard Letterie, who describes pretzels and politics:

Pretzel vendors and the occasional “pretzel boy” roving through neighborhoods in the summer were proudly part of the Philly scene in the 1960s and ’70s. My image of the average pretzel vendor changed with Frank Lomento, whose presence at his pretzel stand at the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Parkway Central Library was a familiar sight.

My Sunday afternoons were spent at the Central Library hammering out college writing assignments. The pretzels were a midafternoon incentive. As I learned while grabbing a pretzel, Lomento was a man of opinion. In 1971, he decided to run for mayor. He had no political background. No deep pocket sponsors. No super PAC. Just a pretzel vendor cart, a Squeeze Please yellow mustard dispenser, and an iconic presence at the curbside. He had a willingness to talk politics in addition to selling you a pretzel.

When he announced his candidacy, he propped up a cardboard sign with a handwritten message: “Frank Lomento for Mayor.” In Lomento’s opinion, what couldn’t be fixed with a pretzel (slathering of mustard optional) needed a political solution. So, he stepped up and in to the mayoral fray.

In an unusually crowded candidate field for the ’71 Democratic mayoral primary, Frank Lomento stood out as an independent and, by some counts, a “protest candidate” alongside William J. Green III, Ira Einhorn, James E. Poole, Albert Sprague, Frank Rizzo, and Hardy Williams. Rizzo ultimately won as the machine-backed candidate, known as “the toughest cop in America.”

Undaunted and after a time away from politics, Lomento entered the mayoral race again in 1983. He lost, but he also gathered 19,000 votes. He was a common, blue-collar guy with a presence and a message that resonated on several levels with Philly’s working-class crowd.

Where else other than Philadelphia would you find a pretzel vendor who leveraged (both figuratively and literally) a man-on-the-street presence into a mayoral candidacy? Not once, but twice in a major American city? A regular guy with the courage to run for office. Totally and uniquely Philly. And an abiding memory of Philadelphia for me, among so many others.

👋 Talk to you later, Philly!

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! Get ready for a hot one today with highs expected to hit the low 90s — and then it gets really hot!

The Russian invasion of Ukraine forced millions of people from their homes. That’s why the Pavliutina family ended up in the Philly area. Despite loving their time here, because of rising pressure on immigrants, they’re leaving the United States.

Philadelphia is home to hundreds of statues, some honoring historical figures, others celebrating beloved fictional heroes. So now, The Inquirer is wondering: Who deserves Philly’s next great statue?

Plus, Philadelphia police found a “significant amount” of blood inside the Olney house linked to the investigation of at least two missing women, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

🧳 Packing their bags (again)

Four years ago Veronika Pavliutina and her three young children landed in Philadelphia after fleeing Ukraine, escaping the war as Russia shelled their home city. Their big shock: The outpouring of care and kindness that greeted them here. Pavliutina, 48, said she’ll never forget it.

But now, she said, it’s time to leave. Federal pressure on Ukrainian war immigrants has created doubt about the family’s ability to stay in the U.S. and raised fears about what could happen if they do.

The government designation that allows Pavliutina and her children to live here, Temporary Protected Status, expires for Ukraine in October. There has been no sign the Trump administration plans to renew it.

Pavliutina has felt the changed government attitude toward immigrants, the ICE arrests and detentions, the common resentment and casual hate. “More and more I can see, it’s becoming not safe,” she said.

The Inquirer’s Jeff Gammage has the full story.

Philadelphia’s Next Top Statue

Philly now has three Rocky statues. That’s three statues celebrating a fictional Philadelphian. And while many great (real) Philadelphians already have statues, there are so many who don’t.

That got us wondering: Who do you think should be Philadelphia’s Next Top Statue?

It’s not an easy question, so we’re putting it to a vote. The Inquirer created a list of just 26 potential candidates. It’s up to you to decide who’s worthy of a statue in our great city.

Should it be Will Smith? Questlove? Play and find out.

What you should know today

• Law enforcement sources said police are prepared to excavate the front and backyards of an Olney house in search of potential human remains after a “significant amount” of blood was found in the home. The house is linked to the investigations of two missing women, authorities say.
• Philadelphia police are investigating whether three men shot near the Hunting Park Recreation Center in the last month — two of them fatally and just six days apart — were targeted by the same gunman, according to law enforcement sources.
• Local police and fire responded to a house explosion in Sellersville, Bucks County, on Monday that left the property in ruins and white debris scattered in a broad blast radius.
• President Donald Trump’s administration has wiped almost all mentions of slavery from a panel accompanying a portrait of Thomas Jefferson at the Second Bank of the United States.
• The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a Mississippi law that allows officials to tally mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrive later, a decision that keeps voting procedures in place in several states as the midterm elections loom.
• Temple University has asked its schools, colleges, and administrative units to cut a total of $60 million to help offset a projected deficit for 2026-27. President John Fry said “some reduction in force is inevitable.”

Quote of the day

In a new Men’s Health story, Ben Simmons said he’s eyeing an NBA return after a year away. Though Simmons mentioned possibly making a comeback in Philly, his 2022 breakup with the 76ers was messy.

🧠 Trivia time

Who just joined the Eagles as the team’s newest linebacker?

A) Kapena Gushiken

B) Andy Dalton

C) Arnold Ebiketie

D) Jaeden Roberts

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

⚽ Watching (on repeat): We all know the World Cup, but this ain’t that. This is The Inquirer Cup, where participants play for worldwide glory (and a hat).

☀️ Bracing for: The 100-degree temps expected to hit Philly later this week, just in time for the Fourth of July.

🎤 Excited about: Broadway legend and Frozen star Idina Menzel will be coming back to Philly for a free Pops concert on Independence Mall.

🏙️ Impressed by: These 26 Philly students who will become tour guides to greet tourists, give directions, and recommend the best our city has to offer over the next six weeks.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: American professional boxer

AIR FOR JEEZ

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

Cheers to Rebecca Welch Pugh, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Rachel Maddow. The TV news host spent some of her formative years in West Philly. She recently returned to talk about her time here ahead of an MS NOW event.

Photo of the day

👋 Have a good day, everyone! Paola will be back with your daily dose of The Inquirer tomorrow morning.

By submitting your written, visual, or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Happy Monday, Philly! Welcome to the start of a new week.

As we near the pinnacle of Semiquincentennial celebrations on July 4, historical reenactors recall the long months of arduous work it took to perfect their roles.

And Eagles training camp is almost here! Before football season kicks off, The Inquirer took a look at some of the newbies joining the Birds’ roster.

Plus, The Inquirer sat down with Pa. Attorney General Dave Sunday, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

📜 Bringing history to life

The lead-up to the nation’s Semiquincentennial is historical reenactors’ Super Bowl run.

A cast of Ben Franklins, John Adamses, and Betsy Rosses — actors who have spent months and uprooted their lives to learn about and live as colonial America’s key characters — will be at the front lines of the 250th birthday celebrations. They will become de facto historians, guides, entertainers, and ushers to an expected crush of tourists, all while anchoring how the country’s earliest days are memorialized and whose stories get to be told.

The set of actors is part of Historic Philadelphia’s Once Upon a Nation program. This year is expected to be one of its biggest ever, with the most actors, plays, scripts, and events.

“Speaking in 18th-century tongue continuously, I am nervous about that. I want to portray it real,” one reenactor said.

Dana Munro and Maggie Prosser have the full story.

🦅 A look at the new Birds

With Eagles training camp drawing nearer, The Inquirer is taking a closer look at the more than three dozen new faces who are expected to report along with the rest of the team on July 28.

Whether they’re a 2026 draft choice, a veteran addition, or a rookie free-agent hopeful, we’re telling you more about each player’s potential role this season.

The first player we’ll take a look at is 38-year-old quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton has the most NFL experience on the 2026 Eagles — that’s unless Brandon Graham returns. The veteran quarterback is going into his 16th NFL season.

Fun fact: Dalton has zero career playoff wins and has thrown just one touchdown pass in the postseason.

The Inquirer’s Olivia Reiner has more.

What you should know today

• A federal judge dismissed a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit seeking to obtain Pennsylvania’s entire, unredacted, voter-registration database.
• Home insurance costs in N.J. and Pa. are below national averages, but are still on the rise, experts say.
• The Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul was a center of resilience Sunday, as dozens of Philly Venezuelans gathered to collect aid for folks affected by two earthquakes that struck the South American country on Wednesday.
• Philadelphia has a long-standing reputation as an underdog city, but when it comes to hosting the FIFA World Cup, Anne Ryan, Pennsylvania’s deputy secretary of tourism, sees Philadelphia as a front-runner.
• Frances Ratay was among those in Temple-led research who saw improvements in well-being, as her fear of bees transformed into a greater appreciation for nature.
• Philly’s Jaron Ennis knocked out Xander Zayas to become the junior middleweight champion.

Quote of the day

Big Night is a food movie, an Italian American movie, and on top of all of that, it’s a Jersey Shore movie. Actor Tony Shalhoub took a look back at his time making the iconic film.

🧠 Trivia time

This local university will create the first endowed editor position at its student newspaper thanks to a million-dollar gift.

A) Penn State University

B) Drexel University

C) La Salle University

D) Temple University

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

📰 Reading: An Inquirer interview with Pa. Attorney General Dave Sunday. He talked about a recent Supreme Court ruling on the work of DA Larry Krasner’s Conviction Integrity Unit.

🛒 Trying: The “store of the future” unveiled by Walmart in Warminster. Some shoppers say they love the improvements.

🏀 Analyzing: The divide between Pennsylvania’s public and private high school sports. For years, there’s been tension — but a new law could change things.

🏡 Admiring: How a man bought his dream Shore house. He lives in California, but having spent his childhood in Wildwood, he wanted a place his family could gather and revive old traditions.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: TV news program host and liberal political commentator.

CHARMED WALDO

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

Cheers to Meg Fagan, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Bam Margera. The “Jackass” star has been mired in legal issues, in and out of rehab, for years. Now, his family says he seems to be “out of the darkness.”

Photo of the day

🐣 And one last cool thing: Residents in Collingswood have spent years fighting for backyard chickens. Now, there’s hope they might win.

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Bobby Reed, who describes his found family in the City of Brotherly Love:

When I moved to Philadelphia in the fall of 2009 I did not know a single person (other than my former partner). I did not have a job, didn’t know what a Wawa was, and could not yet justify throwing snowballs at Santa Claus (who was drunk). I hit the pavement and got a few odd jobs, one of which was tutoring a family’s kids.

My moment was when I was invited to this family’s Thanksgiving dinner. Because I had to work during the holiday and couldn’t afford a flight, I couldn’t get home to Colorado to see my biological family.

But the entire meal made me feel like I was at home. They told me stories about the Eagles and Phillies, what Philadelphia was like when they grew up in the ’80s, how the city has changed, and how the parents met and fell in love.

From that night forward, I knew I had a group of folks that I could lean on. I had a Philadelphia family that would help me through thick and thin, the way Philly families do. I walked around the city the next day with a sense that I belonged here.

I wasn’t that different from the people here. I had simply grown up in a different state, but still held the same values and had the same fight and fire for those values.

I’ve lived here now for almost 17 years and I’m proud to say that I’m from Philadelphia, the most underrated city in America.

👋 That’s all from me, folks. Have a good rest of your day!

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 a new week, Philly.

Some have been wondering, why hasn’t President Donald Trump sent troops to Philadelphia, the city where “bad things happen?” Especially when troops are in smaller, less prominent cities. Nobody knows for sure, but The Inquirer has some theories.

And last year, SEPTA promised solar-powered screens at bus stops that would give riders real-time info. With the initiative stalled, an anonymous street sign artist is filling the void — with their own real-time tracker.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

‘We also need to be ready’

In the last six months Trump has sent troops, immigration agents, or both to Democratic cities from coast to coast. The list includes Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, Memphis, Portland, Ore., Charlotte, N.C., New Orleans, and Minneapolis. But not Philadelphia.

The city that seemed an obvious early target, condemned by Trump as the place where “bad things happen,” has somehow escaped his wrath. At least so far.

That has sparked speculation from City Hall to Washington over why the president would ignore the staunchly Democratic city with which he has famously feuded. We offer some insight into whether that’s likely to change.

🚍 Where did my bus go?

While waiting for a bus earlier this year, two Philadelphia street artists who rely on public transportation diagnosed an all-too-familiar ailment: I have no idea when the bus will be here.

Earlier this month, their brainchild — a solar-powered e-reader mounted into a street sign that provides bus arrival information — went live on the northeast corner of Broad Street and Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia, along bus Route 64.

The device pulls real-time arrival times from publicly available data (the same dataset that feeds SEPTA’s app), according to artist Make It Weird, who engineered the rig and asked to remain anonymous because their work meanders into a legal gray area.

What you should know today

• As Jews around the world celebrate Hanukkah, a deadly attack in Australia has shocked Jewish communities in the Philadelphia region, leading some to increase security at services.
• An upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the legality of the sweeping tariffs that President Donald Trump rolled out in April — briefly sending markets worldwide into a tailspin — could be the next test for stocks that have been flying high.
• An American Airlines flight attendant who works out of the Philadelphia International Airport is suing the airline, alleging that flight attendants aren’t properly paid.
• When it comes to funding his presidential library, former President Joe Biden is far behind on funds, the New York Times reported.
• FIFA opened the lottery for its latest ticket presale on Thursday. It showed tickets, priced in the hundreds, for all 72 group-stage matches, including the five headed to Philly.
• From data centers to casinos, one of Philly’s most successful investors, Ira Lubert, says he’ll give until he’s dead — and after.

Quote of the day

Former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden touched down at the Linc for the snowy Sunday matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Las Vegas Raiders. Joe and “that girl from Philly,” Jill, were spotted on the sidelines with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie before the 1 p.m. kickoff.

🧠 Trivia time

With roots stretching back 170 years, this nonprofit was originally founded to serve the Jewish population but has since expanded to offer a range of services to all.

A) Jewish Family and Children’s Service

B) United Hebrew Charities

C) Jewish Foster Home

D) Abramson Senior Care

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🏈 Thinking about: We took a look at the current playoff picture for the Eagles and the rest of the NFL.

🥃 Drinking: The 14 best whiskeys you can get this holiday season, according to Craig LaBan.

🍫 Craving: A weekend away filled with chocolate, adventure, and festivities in Hershey, Pa.

🏡 Impressed by: A woman searched just four blocks for her dream home in Brewerytown and found it.

👀 Checking out: Little Horse Tavern, a new restaurant at a revived West Philly golf course.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Gov. Josh Shapiro gives an annual speech at this glitzy dinner in midtown Manhattan. This year marked his 15th appearance.

ANNOYANCES PITY VEILS

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

Cheers to Jason Wermers, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Coatesville. The area school district will soon see a swath of changes as it prepares to shutter two elementary schools, open a new one, and realign its attendance boundaries.

Photo of the day

❄️ Philadelphians awoke to the first significant snowfall of the season on Sunday, with 3 to 7 inches of snow blanketing the area.

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Joe Morris, who describes classroom shenanigans in the early days of the Community College of Philadelphia:

The Community College of Philadelphia admitted its first class in September 1965, just a year after community colleges received Pennsylvania legislative approval in 1964. The school took over the former Snellenburg’s department store in Center City.

One of the best classes was Mr. Beck’s History of Western Civilization class. Beck was the most nattily dressed of all the professors and was both captivating and unshakeable. Fifty minutes with him passed rapidly, and his lectures ended precisely as the bell rung. I bet my buddy Frank that I could rattle Beck out of his unflappable persona. During the last class of my first semester, as Beck was taking questions on the material, I asked, “Mr. Beck, where do you purchase your ties?” Beck didn’t flinch: “Given the breadth of material we’ve covered, I’m disappointed that you don’t have an interest in something other than my haberdasher.”

I doubled my bet with Frank, thinking I might shake him during the next semester. I sat in the back row directly underneath three very tall windows, with a small ledge on the outside. Before class, I closed the blinds on either side of the center window and opened the center blind to full height. I clutched my books and hoisted myself out onto the ledge and moved carefully behind the closed blinds. Beck entered and began his lecture. A couple of minutes in, I made my way along the ledge, prompting stares and pointing from the pedestrians below, then, once in the open center window, stepped down into the classroom and took my seat.

I believed Beck paused slightly and I whispered to Frank, “You owe me $10.” Frank maintained that it was merely Beck’s typical pause to emphasize a fact. Atypically, Beck ended class a few seconds early, then said, “Mr. Morris, might you stop by to see me after class?”

Confident that I had shaken him and expecting a reprimand for ledge lingering, I approached his desk and nonchalantly said, “Mr. Beck, I believe you wanted to see me?” He replied, “Yes, could you make more of an effort to be on time for class?” Frank smirked and put out his hand for the 10 bucks.

Thanks for starting your week with The Inquirer. I’ll be back with you 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.