Author: Julie Zeglen

Good morning, Philly. As the 2026 Winter Olympics kick off this week, it’s a great time to consider: What is curling, really? We have your explainer, courtesy of a visit to a local curling club.

Philadelphians are frustrated by the city’s snowstorm response. What does that mean for Mayor Cherelle L. Parker?

And four months after a new name and rebrand, the city’s most iconic cultural institution is now called the Philadelphia Museum of Art once again.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Snow-going recovery

Eleven days past the region’s biggest snowfall in a decade, mounds of slush and ice are still blocking crosswalks and messing with commutes.

🏔️ Much of the city’s slow recovery from the 9.3 inches and icy sleet that fell on Jan. 25 can be attributed to the Arctic freeze that followed.

🏔️ Yet while the Parker administration says it has deployed 1,000 workers and 800 pieces of snow-removal equipment to deal with the emergency — an unusually large arsenal compared with what it has mobilized to battle storms in the past — mobility remains limited in many neighborhoods.

🏔️ Now, Parker, who campaigned on a promise to provide city services, is feeling the heat from fed-up Philadelphians. Such resentment has burned other cities’ mayors before.

Reporters Sean Collins Walsh and Ryan W. Briggs dig in.

Plus: A barge carrying 21,000 tons of salt reinforcements for Philadelphia got stuck in the frozen Delaware River. And after an ice-covered car in Fishtown went viral on TikTok, it was listed as a tourist attraction on Google Maps.

Return of the PMA

Following four months of tumult that included a panned rebrand, the ousting of its top executive, and the resignation of its marketing chief, the cultural institution formerly known as the Philadelphia Museum of Art has a new name: the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Rebrand fallout: In October, the nearly 150-year-old museum announced its name would change to the Philadelphia Art Museum, or PhAM, in a bid to seem more accessible and attract new audiences. Critics quickly pounced (cue the unfortunate internet nickname “PhArt”). Board members said they had been given little notice before the rollout. A month later, director and CEO Sasha Suda was gone.

Changes to come: The board voted unanimously on Wednesday to revert to the old name. But much of the look of the rebrand, which cost around $1 million, will remain.

What leadership says: Daniel H. Weiss, who took over in November after Suda’s departure, called the entire rebrand episode “an unnecessary distraction for us. We want to move on and focus on things that matter most to our mission.”

Arts reporter Peter Dobrin has more on the museum’s about-face.

What you should know today

• Pennsylvania officials pushed back after President Donald Trump said federal officials should oversee elections in cities like Philadelphia and repeated unproven claims of election fraud.
• Philadelphia police are searching for a suspect in connection with the shooting deaths of two tow truck drivers.
• A teenager who was detained for 49 days over his friend’s killing at a SEPTA station contends police “buried” footage that showed he was innocent. Now he’s suing the city and transit officers.
• A former Villanova professor says in a federal lawsuit she was fired from the Catholic university after accusing its law school of racial discrimination involving one of her students.
• Philly’s crowded congressional race has yet to attract much money from political action committees or donors outside the region. That may change as the primary approaches.
• U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Bucks County has more cash on hand than any other GOP incumbent in a swing district nationwide as the party prepares for a tough election.
• Philadelphia biotech companies are worried about losing a key source of federal funding for early-stage innovation. The city’s new matching program offers a small boost.
• The new Norristown school board is moving to oust its superintendent, saying the district needs a new leader to reverse years of poor test scores.

Quote of the day

The developer wants to transform one of South Jersey’s deadest malls, now called the Voorhees Town Center, into a mixed-used development. But he says he needs money from the state to do it.

In other development news: A quarter-century-old zoning law threatens to block a restaurant and bar in Fishtown. And City Council is seeking to stop demolitions as an anti-blight measure, while a housing ban on the former Hahnemann campus is on hold.

🧠 Trivia time

The 76ers have traded guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Besides his basketball skills, which is a reason he became famous in Philadelphia?

A) His sock collection

B) His social media flair

C) His music side project

D) His celebrity friends

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re …

🚍 Noting: How other Pennsylvania transit systems are dealing with the fiscal crunch that hit SEPTA last year.

🏠 Meeting: The architect whose style defined modern Jersey Shore homes.

🌴 Saying goodbye to: Bahama Breeze, including the King of Prussia and Cherry Hill locations.

🗣️ Not sure about: This Jersey Jeopardy! champ’s pronunciation of “Schuylkill.”

🕊️ Considering: The historic impact of faith in the African American community.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Delaware County borough

AIMED

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

Cheers to Marie Bacon, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Philadelphia. America’s oldest warship, sunk by the British in 1776, is getting a 250th-birthday makeover.

Photo of the day

At least we’re getting some sun this week. See you back here 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.

Morning, Philly. The ice on your neighborhood’s crosswalks may finally be cleared soon as the city hires 300 additional workers to chip away at the lingering mounds. Meanwhile, police are begging people to not walk on the frozen Schuylkill.

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are working to keep consumers’ bills from rising with demand for data centers, like those under construction in East Vincent Township and Vineland.

And ahead of Valentine’s Day, we found 12 romantic, under-the-radar restaurants in the city and suburbs.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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A plan to curb energy costs

Data centers require a lot of energy, which can increase consumers’ bills. Elected officials in Pennsylvania and New Jersey hope to help as the centers proliferate across the country and region.

⚡ Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says he’ll prevent data center developers from “saddling” residents with higher energy costs with the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development plan. Presented during his 2026-27 fiscal year budget address Tuesday, the GRID plan would require data centers to supply their own energy or pay for any new generation they need.

⚡ In New Jersey, Gov. Mikie Sherrill has prioritized energy costs by freezing utility rates, expanding programs to spur new power generation in the state, and ordering electric utilities to report energy requests from data centers.

⚡ Other lawmakers in the two states have proposed legislation related to data centers, too. Nearly 30 bills address the facilities’ energy sources, water usage, environmental impacts, and general regulation, as well as rising consumer costs.

Consumer reporter Erin McCarthy has more on the data center demands.

Further reading:

• See the full details on Shapiro’s proposed $53.2 billion state budget, which focuses on affordability, development, and raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage.
• Learn what Montgomery County’s PJM has to do with data centers, and why the company has been a frequent target of Shapiro, officials from other states, consumer advocates, and the federal government.
• A developer wants to increase the size of a proposed data center on a remediated Superfund site in East Whiteland Township, stoking ire from nearby residents.

Feeling romantic

Not to alarm the procrastinators among us, but Valentine’s Day is in 10 days. Still need to make a dinner reso? Consider these picks beyond the typical date-night dining spots, courtesy The Inquirer’s food team:

🍷 Malbec Argentine Steakhouse in Society Hill offers heart-shaped flan (cute!) and special anniversary deserts alongside lots and lots of meat.

🍷 Abyssinia in West Philadelphia invites you to share a platter of Ethiopian comfort food, then cap off the night with a visit to the cozy cocktail bar upstairs.

🍷 Spring Mill Cafe in Conshohocken is a white tablecloth-type place, yes, but one set in a 19th-century farmhouse.

See the map of romantic, under-the-radar restaurants.

More food news: February brings a slew of Philly-area restaurant openings, including a slick lounge in Center City and the reboot of a South Jersey brewery. And you simply must try the pho cocktail at Gabriella’s Vietnam, an homage to family tradition.

What you should know today

• The U.S. House passed a bill to end the latest, brief government shutdown. See how your local representative voted.
• The Trump administration bought a nearly 520,000-square-foot warehouse in Berks County as it plans to convert such facilities across the country into immigration detention centers.
• Sen. Cory Booker, the Jersey Democrat widely considered a potential presidential contender for 2028, has out-fundraised almost every other 2026 candidate for Congress.
• A Pennsylvania couple bought a house on a quiet street. Then they found a swastika in the basement.
• A Montgomery County personal injury attorney has been suspended following allegations that he misled at least 16 clients on settlement offers that did not exist.
• The University of Pennsylvania’s October data breach impacted fewer than 10 people, despite hackers’ claims it was 1.2 million.
• Princeton University’s president said the school will make cuts, given “political threats” to its finances, as well as endowment projections.
• SEPTA will no longer post alerts on social media about potential delays and cancellations due to driver shortages following improvements to its tracking tools and staffing levels.

Quote of the day

The countdown to the 2026 baseball season began Tuesday as the Phillies loaded up the truck for spring training in Clearwater, Fla. Packed items included thousands of baseballs, hundreds of batting gloves, several children’s bicycles, and one very important hot dog launcher.

Plus: We rounded up everything you need to know about Phillies spring training, from key dates to storylines to watch.

🧠 Trivia time

Strip club Lou Turk’s, a Delaware County staple for more than 50 years, announced it is changing its name to The Carousel Delco — but that it will continue its annual sale of what?

A) Irish potatoes

B) Carnival goldfish

C) Unlimited beer raffle tickets

D) Mother’s Day flowers

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🏛️ Noting: This Task stuntman’s turn as Kennett Square council appointee.

🎹 Watching: Sun Ra: Do the Impossible on PBS’s American Masters.

🐴 Obsessed with: Miniature horse Doug, the star of Jason Kelce’s stinky new Super Bowl ad.

🏘️ Reviewing: James Ijames’ Good Bones, a play about gentrification in Philadelphia.

📚 Considering: The enduring need for Black History Month, despite the president’s disdain.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: The name of America’s oldest warship

PHILLIP AHEAD

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

Cheers to Lauri Jacobs, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Starbucks. The coffee chain’s Schuylkill Yards location is the latest to unionize in Philadelphia.

Photo of the day

Someday, all that snow will melt. Probably. Until then, be well.

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.

Hi, Philly. So far, Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction seems accurate as the snow, ice, and freezing temperatures persist. There’s even a chance of a fresh frosting overnight.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is increasingly critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s operation in Minneapolis. Critics point out his administration still cooperates with the agency.

And a lawsuit challenging the legality of a special-admissions process at magnet and other criteria-based city schools was revived by a panel of federal judges this week. The policy’s constitutionality is in question.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. A heads-up to the urban drivers among us: The Philadelphia Parking Authority is resuming parking regulation enforcement and towing today after a pause for last week’s snowstorm. The city also needs all parked vehicles moved from South Broad Street between Washington and Oregon avenues before 7 a.m. for a snow removal operation.

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Ramped-up rhetoric

Gov. Shapiro has avoided fights over immigration for much of the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term in office. But after the fatal shootings in Minneapolis, he’s jumping into the fray.

The centrist Democrat has ramped up his anti-Trump rhetoric since federal agents killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last month, especially during his author tour to promote his new memoir.

Still, immigrant rights groups in Pennsylvania say they want to see Shapiro do more by ending all cooperation with ICE. His administration currently honors ICE detainers in state prisons and allows the agency access to state databases.

Notable quote: “It’s easy for him to point the finger to somebody else, but then what is he doing at home?” a local advocate said of Shapiro’s criticism of the federal operation in Minnesota.

Politics reporters Katie Bernard and Gillian McGoldrick have the story.

In other gubernatorial news:

• The governor decried Philly District Attorney Larry Krasner’s comparison of ICE agents to Nazis. Krasner’s response: “Don’t be a wimp.”
• Shapiro is expected to pitch a $53.3 billion budget on Tuesday during his fourth annual budget address. Here’s what we’ll be watching for.
• And Shapiro is backing a proposal to ban cell phones from Pennsylvania classrooms. Twenty-three other states have so-called “bell-to-bell” bans.

School admissions policy back in court

A lawsuit challenging the legality of Philadelphia schools’ special-admissions process was revived Monday by a federal appeals panel, who ruled it could be unconstitutional and discriminatory.

The initial lawsuit in 2022 was brought forth by a trio of Philly parents, who sued the district to end a new policy that changed the way it admits students to criteria-based schools. A federal judge tossed the case in 2024.

This latest legal move could have long-term implications for the district if the case now proceeds to trial.

Reporters Kristen A. Graham and Abraham Gutman have more details.

More on education: Broken heat and burst pipes left some students shivering in Philadelphia schools on Monday, while others learned virtually from home. Four schools were dismissed early because of the cold conditions.

What you should know today

• A Temple University student was arrested by federal agents Monday in connection with the same anti-ICE protest for which journalist Don Lemon is facing charges.
• A federal judge who will decide the fate of the dismantled slavery-related exhibits at the President’s House visited the site Monday. She also inspected the removed panels, which are now in a storage room at the National Constitution Center, and reported that they have not been “destroyed.”
• Dozens of surveillance videos and cell phone data led Philadelphia police to Kada Scott’s accused killer, as described at a preliminary hearing Monday.
• In the crowded Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, two physicians are largely self-funding their campaigns, while another candidate maintains a financial advantage.
• Democrat Janelle Stelson lost to U.S. Rep Scott Perry by a little over one point in 2024. She keeps outraising him as she prepares for a rematch for the Central Pennsylvania seat.
• The Camden County Hall of Justice is closed through at least Wednesday after a pipe burst at the facility on Sunday.
• Philly-area medical schools are enrolling more women and attracting more students, according to the latest trends.
• NFL draft season has officially kicked off. We rounded up some early Eagles-focused takeaways. Plus, see our Eagles guide to today’s Pro Bowl Games.

Quote of the day

It’s a busy moment for the Sixers, with the upcoming trade deadline, Tyrese Maxey’s turn as breakout star, and rookie VJ Edgecombe’s rise. Of course, fans say, because it’s the Sixers, something had to go wrong.

🏆 Plus: Philly sports has seen many eras, but which one has been the best? Was it the early 1980s? Maybe the early 2000s? What about the 2020s? Is there a time that has been overlooked? Reply to this email to share your thoughts on which era was best and why for a chance to be featured in a future story.

🧠 Trivia time

Some Regional Rail trains have a new look due to an effort from the transit agency to alleviate overcrowding. What is different about them?

A) They are all NextGen Acela trains

B) Their seats have been removed

C) They bear “MARC” logos

D) They have wider doors

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🍴 Congratulating: The winners of The Tasties, Philly’s homegrown culinary awards.

🏡 Peeping: Muhammad Ali’s former Cherry Hill mansion, now back on the market.

🍦 Anticipating: This weekend’s return of Zsa’s Ice Cream in Mount Airy under a new owner.

🥶 Noting: The signs of a frozen housing market in Philadelphia and Delaware County.

🎙️ Considering: Black media’s role in centering Black history, culture, and community.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Coffee chain

BASS TRUCK

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

Cheers to Betsy Flannery, who solved Monday’s anagram: Reclectic. URBN’s discount store is moving from the Franklin Mall to a larger space in the Willow Grove Park Mall this month.

Photo of the day

Enjoy your snow-capped Tuesday. See you back here 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 a new week, Philly, but the temps stay below freezing.

From Philadelphia district attorney to federal inmate, Seth Williams now has another new title: part-time chaplain in the city’s jail system.

And an Army veteran from Montgomery County was arrested Friday alongside journalist Don Lemon for protesting at a Minnesota church, two days after a video of him speaking out against the Trump administration went viral.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow? See the results of the weather-predicting Gobbler’s Knob ceremony at Inquirer.com.

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Seth Williams’ next chapter

Seth Williams was once Philadelphia’s top prosecutor, building a promising political career on a possible trajectory to the mayorship.

Then came the federal corruption charges and five-year prison sentence.

Nearly a decade later, Williams has a new role serving as a chaplain at the city’s jails. Going from being the man tasked with putting Philadelphians in jail to becoming one of them himself has enabled him to offer spiritual guidance with perspective, he says.

In his own words: “I can be a better advocate, a better vessel, to help prevent crime and reduce recidivism … by helping people learn the skills they need to keep jobs and de-escalate conflict,” Williams told The Inquirer. “The best use of my experience … is helping people who are incarcerated the way I was.”

Reporter Chris Palmer visited Williams at work to learn more.

Montco veteran arrested at ICE protest

A 35-year-old Bryn Athyn man is one of nine people facing felony charges for their involvement in a Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn. The protesters said they targeted the church because one of its pastors leads the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement St. Paul field office.

In a video clip posted online two days before his arrest, Ian Austin said he believed as an Army veteran it was his duty to travel to Minnesota.

“We took an oath to the Constitution, and it’s just being shredded right now,” Austin said in the now-viral video.

Former CNN host Don Lemon, who was covering the protest, is also a defendant. Lemon’s arrest, and that of another journalist who attended the protest, has brought criticism from media and civil rights advocates.

Reporter Brett Sholtis spoke to Austin’s parents about their son’s arrest and military background.

In other ICE news: U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) on Sunday defended ICE officials who wear masks to obscure their faces, arguing that doxing is a “serious concern” for agents.

What you should know today

• On the anniversary of the Jan. 31, 2025, plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia, about 100 people attended a ceremony near the Cottman Avenue site to remember those who lost their lives.
• An estimated 144,000 SNAP recipients in Pennsylvania began losing benefits in January as new rules included in the Trump administration’s “Big, Beautiful Bill Act” kicked in.
• Newly released documents show that Jeffrey Epstein expressed interest in buying Bill Cosby’s New York City home and closely followed the Philly-born comedian’s 2016 sex assault trial.
• A freshman football player at Villanova University has been charged with rape and sexual assault stemming from a December incident on campus.
• The former mayor of Willingboro Township was found guilty by a federal jury of mortgage fraud.
• Pete Buttigieg, the former transportation secretary and a potential presidential hopeful for 2028, has endorsed Democrat Bob Brooks, a firefighter running for Congress in the Lehigh Valley.
• Immigrants are a “main driver” of the city’s economy, local leaders said at an Economy League of Greater Philadelphia event, while painting a grim picture of the future with fewer of them.
• Ahead of Friday’s Unrivaled game at Xfinity Mobile Arena, professional basketball player Kahleah Copper took her teammates on a tour of “Norf” — including the corner of 32nd and Berks Streets, where it all started for her.
• Philly artists won big at the Grammy Awards Sunday, including bassist Christian McBride, songwriter Andre “Dre” Harris, and rock producer Will Yip.

Quote of the day

What’s a fair price for shoveling snow that’s turned to ice? Some freelance shovelers increased their rates last week — in Wiles’ case, to about $50 — as the work became more physically demanding.

🧠 Trivia time

Twenty years ago this month, a suburban vegan restaurant moved to Bella Vista and sparked Philadelphia’s embrace of plant-based food. What was it called?

A) Horizons

B) Vedge

C) Ground Provisions

D) HipCityVeg

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🎶 Curious about: Opera Philadelphia’s still-in-progress, multiauthored work Complications in Sue, opening this week.

🏠 Familiar with: Feeling “house poor but happy,” à la our latest How I Bought This House.

🏀 Recapping: Everything you missed from the Sixers’ 2001 reunion night.

🌊 Enjoying: Off-season eats, arcades, and live music in Asbury Park.

🗓️ Considering: The fraught politics behind the creation of Black History Month.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: URBN’s discount store

CIRCLE ETC

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

Cheers to Dwight Munroe, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Philly Special. ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary series is set to relive one of the most memorable moments in Eagles history.

More Eagles media news: Peacock’s forthcoming docuseries, Field Generals: History of the Black Quarterback, tells the history of Black NFL QBs — and features several prominent Eagles.

Photo of the day

📬 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 Michael Thomas Leibrandt, who shares an appreciation for a modern Birds star:

An unfortunate early exit for the Eagles this season means that our fandom will sit waiting in the wings until the excitement of training camp at the Novacare Complex next summer. And as the season closed with all measure of analysis over recent weeks, perhaps no story has been front and center like whether or not AJ Brown will be an Eagle next season.

Whether number 11 takes the field next September in midnight green or eventually visits Lincoln Financial Field on an opposing roster, I’ll always remember seeing his talent on one of the best teams ever to play football in Philadelphia. At times, it seemed like there was nothing that he couldn’t catch, combined with that 6-foot-1, 226-pound frame that set the edge with thunderous blocks springing Saquon Barkley, DeAndre Swift, and Miles Sanders to daylight. Play him in single coverage — good luck. Bring help on him with a safety over-the-top, then risk allowing a big play from another of the Eagles offensive weapons.

For one of the NFL’s oldest franchises, AJ Brown is the best ever. He has more receptions than Terrell Owens in a single season. He has more yards in a single season than Tommy McDonald. And he has played in more Super Bowls for the Eagles than Harold Carmichael, DeSean Jackson, or Alshon Jeffery.

Like most around our region, the Eagles are a generational obsession in my family. My great-grandfather saw another NFL franchise — the Frankford Yellow Jackets — run to a championship in 1926. My grandfather saw the Eagles go to three championship games between 1947 and 1949; they won two. As far back as my young mind can recall, he told me about an Eagles unstoppable running back named Steve Van Buren. My father saw the Eagles win the title in 1960.

I’ve seen something better than all that: a period of Eagles on-field excellence spanning half a decade. I’m not sure that it would have been possible without AJ Brown.

🦅 P.S. If you’re planning to watch the Birds-less Super Bowl next Sunday, you can still enjoy some Philly flavor. We rounded up some of the best local spots to get game-day cheesesteaks, hoagies, wings, and tomato pies.

Thanks for starting your week with The Inquirer. See you back here tomorrow.

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It’s Friday, Philly, and still very, very cold.

The end of the week brought an attempted post-snow return to normal, with Philadelphia students back at school. But the deep freeze — and many of the problems that come with it, including icy, unshoveled sidewalks — will remain through the weekend.

And some restaurateurs are coping with rising food prices by charging you less. Learn how that works, below.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Baby, it’s (still) cold outside

How well did the city navigate this week’s winter storm? Well …

🧊 Some Philly sidewalks remain unshoveled, now more than four days after the snow fell. The city is responsible for many of them, including walkways outside government-owned buildings, in parks, and near SEPTA stops. Many smaller streets are still unplowed, too.

🧊 City schools reopened Thursday after days of virtual learning. Some students returned to snowbanks, burst pipes, and frigid classrooms.

🧊 Ice in the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers signals problems for the Philadelphia Water Department, which draws its drinking water from intakes along the waterways. The department also warns that the extreme cold is causing city water mains to burst — around 150 so far this month.

🧊 Next up: There’s an outside chance of snow in Philly this weekend. And temperatures in the city are forecast to be well below freezing, with lows near zero.

What you should know today

• Sen. John Fetterman on Thursday voted against a federal funding package that included allocations for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, despite previously noting his objections. Later, Democrats and the White House struck a deal to avert a partial government shutdown.
• New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she supports enshrining the state’s existing sanctuary policy into law, as immigrant rights groups push for an expanded version. Her administration will also create an online database for people to upload videos they record of federal immigration officers.
• A veto-proof majority of Philadelphia City Council members have signed onto the “ICE Out” proposal that would limit the city’s cooperation with deportation efforts.
• Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity on Thursday announced her pick for a running mate in the governor’s race: Jason Richey, an attorney and chair of the Allegheny County GOP. President Donald Trump this week endorsed Garrity, calling her an “America First Patriot.”
• The Philadelphia School District’s board met Thursday for the first time since school closures were announced. They got an earful from community members.
• A jury awarded $7.8 million to the family of a Montgomery County resident and Bloomsburg University student who died in a 2019 fall after a night of drinking at a fraternity rush party.
• The woman who pepper-sprayed a conservative influencer on a SEPTA bus earlier this month has been charged with assault, officials said.
• The University of Pennsylvania will institute another round of budget cuts in response to the Trump administration’s actions that threaten future funding and revenues.

‘You can only charge so much for a taco’

As food costs rise, eating out has gotten more expensive. That doesn’t mean restaurants are making more money.

Some Philly-area eateries are adjusting their menus to reduce overhead or prices in a bid to attract diners. They say it’s more about getting creative with ingredients than shrinking portions.

Regional restaurant group Harvest Seasonal Grill, for instance, has cut out garnishes and swapped in a less-expensive scallop pasta dish in place of seared scallops served whole, among other changes.

After an adjustment period, lower check averages have come with higher customer counts and revenue, Harvest’s founder told The Inquirer — “and we didn’t sacrifice quality.”

Restaurant reporter Mike Klein has the story.

In other food news: Amazon plans to lay off nearly 1,000 Amazon Fresh employees in the region at the end of April as it closes the grocery stores. Three of Di Bruno Bros.’ five locations will close in the coming weeks, including one in Center City. And the McGlinchey’s name and building, which closed last summer, are now on the market.

Plus: Why is Dexter, the U.S. Navy’s last working horse, buried in Philly?

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 on Naval Square, where the U.S. Navy’s last working horse is buried. The beloved Dexter worked for two decades in the middle of the 20th century at the Graduate Hospital site, then a home for retired sailors.

At his funeral in 1968, Taps was played on trumpet as his nine-foot casket was lowered by crane on the grounds. 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

Which 57-year-old Philadelphia dive bar is both responsible for popularizing the Citywide and hosting the city’s longest-running drag show?

A) Dirty Franks

B) Locust Rendezvous

C) El Bar

D) Bob and Barbara’s

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

What we’re …

🦊 Remembering: When John du Pont killed Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz in Newtown Square on this week in Philly history.

🎥 Watching: Philadelphia, among the new selections to the Library of Congress National Film Registry.

📣 Cheering: The first Philly public elementary school to compete in national cheer finals.

🍫 Slurping: Hot chocolate at these seven cozy spots in the city.

🐕 Anticipating: The Simpsons’ 800th episode, which takes place in Philly and features Questlove.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: South Jersey resort hub (two words)

TINY TACTICAL

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

Cheers to Richard Freeman, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Gladwyne. A plan to redevelop the Lower Merion community has residents split on their town’s future. What happens next?

Plus: A Gladwyne estate that can be split into three lots is for sale for $8.5 million. Take a look inside.

Photo of the day

🔓 One last revived thing: Independence Hall reopened Thursday following a four-month preservation project. Reporter Mike Newall chatted with visitors from near and very far about what brought them to the hallowed halls of history.

Thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer. Paola has you covered this weekend.

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Morning, Philly. First, a weather update: Yes, it’s still cold out, and will continue to be so as forecasters monitor the potential for another storm this weekend. City schools will be virtual again today.

Designers of the President’s House are grappling with the dismantling of its slavery exhibits last week following orders from the Trump administration.

And federal immigration tactics in Minneapolis have set off a political firestorm. Read on for the latest from Philadelphia City Hall, Harrisburg, and Washington.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘A memorial to the death of democracy’

The public received no notice that the President’s House exhibits at Independence National Historical Park would be coming down last week. Neither did the artists, architects, historians, attorneys, and writers who helped create the site in the early 2000s.

Those exhibits, which memorialize the nine people George Washington enslaved at the house once located there, were removed alongside other national parks’ signage deemed by President Donald Trump’s administration to “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.”

The City of Philadelphia — now backed by Gov. Josh Shapiro — has sued the federal government to restore the panels. But in the meantime, the site’s creators are grappling with what its now-blank walls say about the country.

In their own words: “It’s sort of now a memorial to the death of democracy and truth,” said Troy C. Leonard, an architect who helped design the site.

Politics reporter Fallon Roth has more details, including why its creators say the exhibits wouldn’t make sense at any other location.

Further viewing: Grassroots signs have replaced informational panels at the President’s House. See the resistance art left on Independence Mall.

A political firestorm

Political backlash to the tactics of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol in Minneapolis is growing locally and across the United States.

In Philadelphia: Two Council members on Tuesday unveiled legislation that would formally limit the city’s cooperation with ICE.

In Harrisburg: A top Democrat floated making Pennsylvania a so-called sanctuary state to protect undocumented immigrants.

In D.C.: Lawmakers face mounting pressure to hold up funding for the Department of Homeland Security, an effort that could result in a government shutdown by the end of the week. Members of the U.S. House representing Pennsylvania, for instance, cosigned a letter to Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick calling them to vote against the funding.

Reporters Sean Collins Walsh, Jeff Gammage, and Anna Orso have the full story.

More ICE news: Activists demonstrated at Philly Target stores on Tuesday, attempting to slow business operations at a company that they say wrongly cooperates with federal immigration enforcement.

What you should know today

• Three people were found dead Monday at a Bucks County home where a man barricaded himself before being arrested. Neighbors on Tuesday described the hours-long police standoff.
• Bucks prosecutors announced charges related to a multistate investigation that led to the recovery of eight firearms and $4 million in drugs.
• The federal commission seeking personal contact information for faculty and staff at the University of Pennsylvania has accused the school of engaging in an “intensive and relentless public relations campaign” to avoid complying with the subpoena.
• Philadelphia health officials are warning of a “small but notable” uptick in chickenpox cases after outbreaks at two city schools in recent months.
• New Jersey and Pennsylvania are poised to regain roughly $144 million in federal funding for electric‑vehicle charging stations after securing a legal victory.
• Parents of deaf and blind infants in Bucks County are worried about losing a “lifeline” as an early intervention contract ends.
• All Amazon Fresh stores, including six in the Philly area, are closing. Some stores will be converted to Whole Foods Markets.
• Her adult autistic son was kicked off a cruise ship after what she calls a misunderstanding. Now this South Jersey mother is on a mission to better awareness.

Quote of the day

A rural county in New York is claiming a familiar moniker. Columnist Stephanie Farr needs to set the record straight: No one does Delco culture quite like Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

🧠 Trivia time

Lincoln, the bald eagle that soars across Lincoln Financial Field before Birds games, befriends what type of animal in a new Budweiser Super Bowl ad?

A) Clydesdale

B) Osprey

C) Dalmatian

D) Pigeon

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🦅 Noting: The Eagles players fans most — and least — want to see back next season, and the steps the team could take to get back to the Super Bowl next year.

💸 Learning: How Philly helicopter makers cope with uncertainty at today’s Pentagon.

🍝 Eager to visit: Chef Greg Vernick’s new restaurant, Emilia, now open in Kensington.

🥯 Anticipating: The latest bagel chain coming to Philly.

🗳️ Considering: Lessons from Chester County’s adaptation after election mistakes.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Center City commercial strip

TEAMSTER TREK

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

Cheers to Dawn Harris, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Wistar Institute. The University City biomedical research org’s president and CEO, Dario Altieri, is stepping down after 11 years.

Photo of the day

Still waiting for your street to be plowed? You’re not alone. The city says it’s working through 311 requests while citing worker safety and the difficulty of navigating Philly’s narrowest roadways.

Be safe out there. I’ll be back with more news 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.

Hi, Philly. After the region’s biggest snow in 10 years, we may get a rare deep freeze soon via the first zero-degree reading since 1994.

Two Philadelphia City Council members will introduce legislation this week to restrict cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The push comes as ICE faces mounting national scrutiny over its tactics in Minneapolis.

And the school district’s building plan would close a high-performing Roxborough magnet. Its community plans to fight back.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. City offices and courts are closed today, and city schools are virtual. See the latest weather updates at Inquirer.com.

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Limiting cooperation with ICE

Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Rue Landau are expected this week to introduce a package of bills aimed at pushing back against ICE activity in Philly, home to an estimated 76,000 undocumented immigrants.

In the legislation: Among other directives, the bills would limit information sharing between the city and ICE and effectively make permanent Philadelphia’s status as a so-called “sanctuary city” by barring authorities from holding people at ICE’s request without a court order.

National context: While activists have been calling for Philadelphia leaders to formalize its sanctuary city status for months, this Council action comes after federal agents shot and killed two civilians in Minneapolis in the last three weeks, prompting national outrage.

Eyes on Parker: Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has largely avoiding criticizing the Trump administration outwardly. She may now be forced to take a side if the legislation reaches her desk.

Reporters Anna Orso, Sean Collins Walsh, and Jeff Gammage have more.

In other ICE news: Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) on Monday called for the federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis to “immediately end,” while Sen. Dave McCormick (R, Pa.) on Sunday called for a “full investigation into the tragedy” following Saturday’s fatal shooting.

Rooting for Lankenau

At Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School, students can join a birdwatching club, take pesticide classes, and work with beehives. The school, based in the woods of Roxborough, is the state’s only three-year agriculture, food, and natural resources career and technical education program.

Now, it’s one of 20 city schools proposed for closure in the Philadelphia School District’s facilities plan.

Lankenau’s inclusion on that list is a blow to its students and staff. They say they aren’t letting it go down without a fight.

Notable quote: “Lankenau takes education to the next level,” a junior told The Inquirer. “The environment is beautiful, the woods are amazing — that’s another classroom. Nature is like therapy for a lot of people — it changed my life.”

Education reporter Kristen A. Graham has the story.

What you should know today

• One man is dead, and three others are hospitalized after a shooting inside a North Philly house early Monday.
• State Rep. Joanna McClinton has carefully wielded her power as Pennsylvania House speaker. Now, she’s taking a more active role in pushing for the issues she cares about most, with special attention to the home care wage crisis.
• A federal judge denied convicted former labor leader John Dougherty’s latest request to serve the rest of his six-year prison term on house arrest to care for his gravely ill wife.
• A split Pennsylvania Game Commission has voted in favor of a developer’s land swap widely opposed by Limerick Township residents who fear it could pave the way for a large data center.
• The Philadelphia Housing Authority plans to reopen the derelict former Germantown Settlement properties by 2029 — at great cost.
• A bill signed last week by former N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy makes it easier for manufactured home and mobile home residents to buy their communities.
• Camden’s American Water and Bryn Mawr’s Aqua have had a tough time privatizing water and sewer systems. So far, their planned merger doesn’t impress investors.
• Meet Laura Carlson, University of Delaware’s new president, who runs weekly with staff and students and wants better relationships with state and local governments.
• Opera Philadelphia has signed an early contract extension with director Anthony Roth Costanzo, who since 2024 has brought national attention and funding to the arts org.

Quote of the day

Did you know bats are both helpful and extremely cute? See what else Stephanie Stronsick, a bat expert who rehabilitates them in her Berks County home, wants you to know about the winged mammals.

🧠 Trivia time

After its trademark and intellectual property were acquired by an investment firm, which bankrupt firm could be revived in some locations?

A) Rite Aid

B) Iron Hill Brewery

C) Bistro at Cherry Hill

D) Joann Fabrics

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🍻 Debating: Philly’s ultimate dive bar map, informed by readers’ faves.

🐻 Respectfully learning: The story behind the viral naughty bears outside a Southwest Philly strip club.

📝 Noting: What employers want to see in resumés, according to this Wharton expert.

🍕 Dreaming of: A trip to New Haven filled with pizza, museums, and waterfront walks.

🕳️ Asking: Why do sinkholes keep opening up in Philly?

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: University City research org

WARTIEST INTUITS

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

Cheers to Tony Jagielski, who solved Monday’s anagram: Philly Auto Show. The annual event returns to the Convention Center this weekend. More brands and electric vehicles are expected, despite the automobile industry’s volatile year.

Photo of the day

And that, folks, is why we let the kids have their snow days.

Stay cozy today. See you back here 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 region’s biggest snow in 10 years had an icy finish, and it isn’t going anywhere soon. Read on to learn what it takes to clear 2,500 miles of city streets.

And after a U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and killed a man Saturday in Minneapolis, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and other Democratic officials are responding, along with protesters across the country.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Trudging through

The weekend’s storm coated the city with more than 9 inches of snow, and upward of 9.5 inches in the wider region.

❄️ The follow-up sleet means “we’re going to have a rather glacial snowpack for the foreseeable future,” a National Weather Service meteorologist told The Inquirer.

❄️ Tackling a snow event in the city requires around 600 pieces of equipment and more than 1,000 employees. Think of it like a ballet, reporter Maggie Prosser writes after an overnight tour of the production.

❄️ If you’re feeling cooped up and eager to dine at your favorite neighborhood haunt, just make sure it’s open before braving the elements. Some decided as early as Saturday to close through Monday, weighing safety concerns and uncertain food deliveries against the loss of revenue.

See photos of the storm’s impact and the latest weather updates at Inquirer.com.

Another fatal federal shooting

The shooting death of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti by a federal agent in Minneapolis has sparked outrage in Philadelphia and across the United States.

The national view: State officials and protesters in Minnesota are demanding federal agents leave the state while federal officials assert the killing was justified. In Congress, Senate Democrats plan to block a sweeping government funding package in protest, increasing the likelihood of another shutdown at the end of the week. Meanwhile, the federal agencies that would typically be involved in investigating a shooting by an officer have been quiet.

Shapiro’s response: In an interview with CBS News, the Pennsylvania governor said he has plans in place should the Trump administration attempt a surge of federal agents here.

Local mobilization: At Shapiro’s book tour event Saturday at Philly’s Central Library, roughly 100 protesters gathered in the bitter cold to demand that the governor stop sharing state data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Hundreds also gathered Friday night in Center City to show support for Minneapolis, a city still reeling from another fatal shooting weeks earlier. See photos from the rally and march.

What you should know today

• A teenager admitted in court that he wanted to join ISIS and pleaded guilty last week to the attempted murder of a South Jersey police officer.
• The man who struck and killed Tracey Cary as she crossed City Avenue in a wheelchair in 2024 was sentenced Friday to three to six years in state prison. At sentencing, Cary’s sister remembered her as a beloved “favorite auntie.”
• In her run for Pennsylvania governor, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced she has fundraised $1.5 million in her first few months as a Republican candidate. She faces an uphill battle against Gov. Josh Shapiro’s $30 million war chest.
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Denver’s Soar Autism Centers are launching a local autism therapy network, starting with a location in Newtown.
• A massive, mixed-use warehouse project near Rowan University has hit a snag in the approvals process. A lawsuit blames a “rogue” employee and a rival firm.
• Some Philly-area workers are making $100,000 without a bachelor’s degree. See what industries and roles they’re in.
• The National Women’s Soccer League wants an expansion team in Philadelphia, if a buyer comes along, its commissioner told The Inquirer.

Quote of the day

Less than two years ago, RJ Smith was cooking elaborate tasting menus for four people in his Drexel University dorm room. Now, the 21-year-old chef is about to step onto a far bigger stage: a 120-seat restaurant overlooking Rittenhouse Square.

🧠 Trivia time

Now an advocate for women’s professional sports in Philly and beyond, which athlete was once a player-coach of the Philadelphia Freedoms tennis team?

A) Andre Agassi

B) Venus Williams

C) Andy Roddick

D) Billie Jean King

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

👞 Seeing: Costumes from the Oscar-nominated wardrobe of Sinners at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

⛪ Ogling: This $2.5 million Society Hill church, soon to be a family home.

💌 Loving: The Inquirer’s series on life partners, including this edition on polyamory in Manayunk.

🥕 Noting: Chester County’s new grocery store offerings.

🏛️ Considering: What the removal of the President’s House Site slavery exhibits means for America.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: For car enthusiasts, the Philly _ _

OUST WHOA

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

Cheers to Jane Hughes, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Nihonbashi Philly. Inquirer restaurant critic Craig LaBan visited Tokyo’s shrine to Philly culture, and he tried the cheesesteak. No way it passed muster — right?

Photo of the day

📬 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 Alan M. Iavecchia, who describes the lifelong repercussions of a pretzel craving:

In May 1974, I was 20 and had just completed my second uninspired year of commuting to Temple University from Lower Mayfair. I woke up one beautiful spring morning, free of school and SEPTA stress, and decided to treat myself to some soft pretzels. That’s when the dominoes began to fall.

Domino #1: I walked three blocks to Pat’s, a mom-and-pop candy store that I hadn’t visited in years. While waiting for my pretzels, I noticed the newspaper rack and impulsively made my first-ever purchase of the Daily News. (Our home had daily deliveries of both the Inquirer and Bulletin newspapers, so I never had any need for the Daily News.)

Domino #2: The center page of that Daily News just happened to have a free ads promotion. I submitted an ad, and subsequently got a summer job at Philly’s historic J.B. Lippincott Publishing Co., two blocks behind Independence Hall.

Domino #3: At the end of that summer, I accepted a permanent job at Lippincott’s distribution center in Northeast Philly, foregoing college.

Domino #4: The following spring, the company bulletin board announced that Lippincott would be opening a West Coast distribution warehouse in San Jose. I requested and received a transfer there, leading to my first times on an airplane, buying a car, finding an apartment, and living alone, after 21 years in a rowhome overpopulated with our family of seven.

I spent nearly three decades in San Jose, but returned to my Mayfair home in 2002 for the final years of my father’s life. I reside there still. And while I happily partake of soft pretzels only a few times a year, each one always reminds me of those random dominoes of my life. California would never have happened without that free ad, and I would never have seen that promotion if not for my want of a pretzel.

Thanks for starting your week with The Inquirer. Be well.

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 Friday, Philly. Forecasts for this weekend’s storm now have more than a foot hitting the region, and city residents are, understandably, freaking out — but with some whimsy sprinkled in.

Philadelphia School District officials are proposing closing 20 schools, colocating others inside existing buildings, and renovating more than 150 others as part of a massive reshaping of the system. Read on for what we know and don’t and local lawmakers’ strong reactions.

And the immigrant father of a 5-year-old with brain cancer is accepting deportation to Bolivia after months in federal detention.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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A school district overhaul

Philadelphia School District officials have revealed the results of a years-in-the-making facilities plan to reshape the system.

The big picture: Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr.’s current proposal would close 20 schools, colocate six, and modernize 159. The closures, which would not begin to take effect until the 2027-28 school year, would be scattered through the city, with North and West Philly hardest hit. The 10-year blueprint comes with a $2.8 billion price tag.

What we don’t know: Of several unknowns, the biggest is which, if any, of the proposed closures will actually happen. Any changes must be approved by the school board, which could adopt all, some, or none of Watlington’s recommendations.

Lawmakers’ reactions: The district’s facilities plan did not go over well in City Council’s first session of the year on Thursday, with several members voicing dismay and one proposing to allow Council to remove the school board members who will consider the proposed closures.

Search your school: Check our chart to see what’s happening to any city school under the proposal.

‘He reached his limit’

Despite community support and legal efforts, the detained immigrant father of a 5-year-old son with brain cancer has decided to drop efforts to stay in the United States and accept deportation to Bolivia.

Johny Merida Aguilara has been in federal custody at Moshannon Valley Processing Center since September. He was previously a main caretaker for his son, Jair, who has been treated at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, but whose future care is now uncertain.

Merida Aguilara’s wife and three American-citizen children will also go, voluntarily, leaving their home in Northeast Philadelphia.

In their own words: “I am tired,” Gimena Morales Antezana, his wife, said in an interview with The Inquirer. “We have been trying to survive, but it is difficult with the children because they miss their dad so much.”

Reporters Jeff Gammage and Michelle Myers have the story.

What you should know today

• The National Park Service on Thursday started dismantling exhibits about slavery at the President’s House in Independence National Historical Park. The Trump administration last year ordered displays at national parks that “inappropriately disparage” the U.S. to be reviewed and potentially removed.
• Villanova University was one of several colleges nationwide that saw its operations disrupted Thursday by a series of hoax threats.
• Mayor Cherelle Parker’s housing plan is back on track after Philadelphia City Council reapproved $800 million in city bonds. Plus, a bill to ban waste incineration was put on hold after failing to gain lawmakers’ support. And one Council member refused to advance her colleague’s reproductive healthcare legislation — but is now promoting her own.
• We asked attendees at New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s inaugural ball four questions about her. Here’s what they said.
• An independent law firm found that independent and unaffiliated voters were left off Chester County’s poll books in November’s election due to human error and insufficient training.
• A massive data center is under construction in South Jersey. Some residents are concerned about its impact on their lives and the environment.
• New Jersey officials confirmed 2026’s first case of bird flu in a commercial flock in Burlington County.
• A Philadelphia woman accused a local influencer of racist remarks and then pepper-sprayed him in the face on a SEPTA bus. Video was taken and widely shared on conservative media.
• The University of Pennsylvania received an $8 million gift to redesign how it trains doctors at its medical school.

Plus: What’s the story behind the colonial-era grave site hidden in residential Cherry Hill?

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 suburban reporter Denali Sagner by way of Curious Cherry Hill. A reader asked for the backstory of a hidden-in-plain-sight grave site in the township’s Woodcrest neighborhood.

The small cemetery is the final resting place of one of South Jersey’s most prominent colonial families, the Matlacks, and an unspecified number of servants and enslaved people. 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

The former KYW radio building on Walnut Street just sold for about $5 million — a steep discount from the $19 million it sold for in 2019. Which Beatle once worked there?

A) Ringo Starr

B) George Harrison

C) John Lennon

D) Paul McCartney

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

What (and whom) we’re …

🚚 Remembering: That time an armored guard stole from his own truck on this week in Philly history.

⚕️ Cheering on: The Bucks County toddler who’s an ambassador for a national cancer charity.

⛳ Reading: Chill Moody’s new book about a little girl with magical golf clubs.

🍴 Impressed by: The 28-year-old about to open his third restaurant in the suburbs.

🍺 Anticipating: Philly bar legend “Fergie” Carey’s takeover of Mac’s Tavern in Old City.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Sixers’ drum line

REST SIX

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

Cheers to Ruben Taborda, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Four Seasons. If you want to stay in the luxury hotel’s new penthouse suite, it’ll cost you … $25,000 per night.

Photo of the day

Consider this your moment of calm before the storm. Remember: City residents can be fined up to $300 for not shoveling their sidewalks.

Thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer. ’Til we meet again in your inbox, be well.

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.