Category: Inquirer Morning Newsletter

It’s set to be another gusty day, Philly.

Immigrants who have ongoing legal cases have been unexpectedly taken by federal agents amid the Trump administration’s push to boost arrests and deportations. In Philadelphia, the arrest of an Indonesian man at a routine visa appointment has sparked outrage among advocates.

And a nonprofit offered free MRIs in Hunting Park to screen for brain cancer. Doctors worry they’re not worth the consequences.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Routine appointments now ICE traps

Rian Andrianzah showed up for what he thought was a routine biometrics appointment in Philadelphia last month.

Instead, while his wife waited for him in another room, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested the Indonesian man and sent him to a Central Pennsylvania detention center. He now faces deportation.

It’s part of a strategy shift by President Donald Trump’s administration to arrest green-card applicants, asylum seekers, and others who are going through legal processes to stay in the country, lawyers and advocates say.

Meanwhile, members of the city’s Indonesian American community have responded quickly to Andrianzah’s arrest, raising thousands of dollars to support his family.

Immigration reporter Jeff Gammage explains the case.

Screening for brain cancer

The Brain Tumor Foundation has been holding free screening events for more than a decade in hopes of promoting early detection of brain tumors.

They’re popular, too: All spots for the foundation’s recent multiday screening event at Triumph Baptist Church in Hunting Park were claimed.

In the best scenarios, preventive medical screening can help catch diseases early when they are most treatable, and give people peace of mind.

But they can also lead to overdiagnosis, false positives, unnecessary stress, and costly follow-up procedures, doctors say.

Health reporter Kayla Yup has the story, including the criteria experts say screening tests must meet to be adopted as standard practice.

What you should know today

• The parents of a 16-year-old shot and killed last month near Northeast Philadelphia High want the city to know not just how he died, but who he was.
• A 21-year-old South Jersey man was charged by federal prosecutors with cyberstalking a 13-year-old girl and coercing her into self-harm.
• The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office this month charged a record number of Philly cops in a grant theft scandal. DA Larry Krasner has been unusually quiet about it.
• SEPTA’s largest employee union voted Sunday to authorize a strike. Transport Workers Union Local 234 represents, among other workers, bus, subway, and trolley operators.
• Jefferson Health reported a $104 million operating loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, while Penn Medicine reported a $109 million operating gain in the same period.
• Wilmington-based DuPont’s latest spin-off, Qnity, which makes artificial intelligence-enabling materials, is growing fast with demand from Nvidia. Plus, Swedish-owned Essity acquired a Playtex brands and tampon manufacturing plant in Dover for $340 million.
• Ardella’s House, a residential program to help formerly incarcerated women with reentry, opened its second location in West Philadelphia on Friday.
• St. Hedwig’s in Chester is no longer a church. Some of its buildings may be redeveloped into multifamily housing.
• A 14-foot-long great white shark named Contender, the largest tagged and tracked by research group OCEARCH, pinged near the New Jersey coast last week.

Quote of the day

The Ministry of Awe, a new permanent cultural attraction, is set to open in the historic Manufacturers National Bank in Old City this March. Meg Saligman founded the project in 2022 as a nonprofit dedicated to reviving the vacant bank and creating an arts venue with work that riffs on the bank theme.

🧠 Trivia time

Amy Gutmann is coteaching an undergraduate class this semester in the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication. Which is not one of her past roles?

A) Politics professor at Princeton University

B) Temple University visiting scholar

C) U.S. ambassador to Germany

D) Penn president

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re…

⭐ Voting on: Which Philly restaurants deserve Michelin stars.

🐈 Meeting: Gary, the cat that ended a friendship and cost $25,000 in legal fees.

🎓 Congratulating: Two local students honored as 2026 Rhodes scholars.

🎨 Checking out: The Brandywine Museum of Art’s new Malcolm Jenkins-approved exhibition.

🧠 Considering: What Philadelphia’s next 250 years will look like.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: About 90 minutes from Philly

ANCESTRAL

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

Cheers to Peter Stevens, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Barnes Foundation. A South Philly teen broke into the institution 73 years ago. It led to a lifelong artistic career.

Photo of the day

Puppies that are being raised to serve people who are blind took in the many sights, sounds, and most importantly, the many smells of Philadelphia International Airport Saturday morning.

In other canine-related news: Sixers star Tyrese Maxey’s turn as a pup wrangler will be shown at the National Dog Show this Thanksgiving.

📬 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 Miles Davis, who describes witnessing the emergence of a cultural movement firsthand:

The night that changed my life and let me know I was from the best city in the United States of America was when I was with my best friend, Eric, heading downtown. It was 1980 at Wagner’s Ballroom. We were going to see for the first time a battle of hip-hop, which was turning up the streets with rap and turntables spinning the newest jams.

The show was so lit and not a person was seen sitting. Heck, in the time hip-hop came out, no one was ever sitting at a hip-hop event. We called people who sit at rap concerts a Wall Flower who holds up the wall.

Hip-hop came on the scene with its own sound and meaning. I was so glad to have been a part of that culture knowing what it meant and where it was going.

Follow your own groove today. Have a good one.

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Welcome to a new week, Philly, and go Birds to all who celebrate.

Delaware County is closing two homeless shelters amid Pennsylvania’s budget impasse, leaving families who relied on the services scrambling to find temporary housing.

And remote work is on the decline in 2025, but some Philadelphia business leaders are sticking with it.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Shelter system stretched too thin

Social services organizations around the Philadelphia region have been struggling as the budget impasse in Harrisburg keeps them from receiving expected state funding.

In Delaware County, officials say they’ve propped up the homeless shelter system for as long as they can by dipping into county coffers. Now, they can’t hold on anymore: Two shelters will close this month, and a rental assistance program will be paused.

The closures are likely temporary until a state budget is approved and funding flows again. But remaining shelters have already seen a surge in people seeking assistance. Street outreach providers have noticed more people than usual living outside. And temperatures are dropping.

It’s the latest blow to a county that in recent months has lost its largest hospital system, and as the federal government is set to delay nutrition and energy assistance benefits.

Notable quote: “This is people’s last resort. This is the last stop before being on the street,” a resident of the soon-to-close Wesley House said of the room he shares with his family. “I feel like we’re being kicked while we’re already down.”

Reporters Ximena Conde and Gillian McGoldrick have the story.

In other Delco news: A Republican candidate for a seat on the Upper Darby Township Council is facing scrutiny from Democrats over old social media posts.

‘Give the people what they want’

The pandemic normalized remote work for many Philly-area companies. But more recently, several of the city’s largest employers — Comcast, Independence Blue Cross, and the City of Philadelphia itself, for instance — have required more in-office time.

💼 Employers who have stayed fully or partly remote say the benefits remain.

💼 Some of these company leaders, including those who represent smaller organizations that might not be able to offer the most competitive salaries or bonuses, note that remote work allows employees more flexibility, and helps to attract the best talent from anywhere. For those with hybrid setups, the use of office space is changing, too.

💼 Still, others bemoan the tradeoffs of less face-to-face time.

Business reporter Ariana Perez-Castells has the latest dispatch from the workplace culture front.

What you should know today

• One person was killed and six others were injured in a shooting Saturday at Lincoln University, which was celebrating homecoming weekend, authorities said.
• A Lower Gwynedd man has been charged with the attempted murder of a Plymouth Township police officer after authorities say he struck the officer with his car multiple times.
• Chester saw one of its safest summers ever in 2025, with zero deaths from gun violence. Police and prosecutors credit a combination of advocacy work and intervention groups.
• The family of Kada Scott honored her life Sunday by releasing balloons on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.
• The University of Pennsylvania on Friday released the letter sent to President Donald Trump’s administration, explaining why the school rejected its proposed compact.
• Demonstrators in big, green inflatable costumes have become a symbol of resistance to the Trump administration. A Temple University professor explains why.
• Philadelphia health systems’ profit margins have seen a sharp drop since the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Joyce Wilkerson, Philly’s longest-serving school board member, was just named the nation’s top urban educator. The award comes as her membership on the board has been legally questioned.

Quote of the day

The souls of pets are said to return on Oct. 27, a few days before the Día de Muertos on Nov. 1 and 2. Some families are honoring departed dogs and cats with “pet ofrendas.”

🧠 Trivia time

Which area of Philadelphia has its own Fright Registry, which maps out nearly 100 businesses and homes offering tricks or treats, decorations, or Halloween events for families?

A) West Philly

B) North Philly

C) South Philly

D) Fishtown

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🏀 Naming: All the Sixers who scored 18+ points in their rookie debut.

🚂 Planning: A day of leaf peeping and mountain charm in Jim Thorpe.

🪓 Checking out: King of Prussia Mall’s gaming venue plus bar-restaurant.

🏈 Loving: This football-forged bond between a Cherry Hill teacher and former student.

🚰 Considering: The Gloucester Township candidate who’s an unlikely David to a for-profit water company’s Goliath.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Kid-friendly cultural institution

SUMPTUOUS ACME HEEL

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

Cheers to Bruce L., who solved Sunday’s anagram: Maya Nazareth. The Philadelphia entrepreneur and founder of Alchemize Fightwear delivered her pitch to celebrity investors on ABC’s Shark Tank on Wednesday.

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 Joe Hogan, who adds an entry to a long history of legendary sports fandom:

Philly enjoys a reputation throughout the country as having some of the most robust sports fans. They are not opposed to booing their own team if the team’s performance doesn’t meet fans’ expectations. Our fanatical support for our teams goes back many years.

Back in 1960, my brother Mike attended St. Joseph’s College (now University), where students enthusiastically supported their basketball team. Mike did it in a very special way during a St. Joe’s game at Madison Square Garden’s holiday festival. It was near the end of the second half against Manhattan College, and a questionable foul (in Mike’s view) was called on a St. Joe’s player.

The alleged foul was so dubious — obviously the ref was catering to the home team — that the response required far more than screaming obscenity-laced insults from the stands. It required, in Mike’s mind, an up-close and heated exchange with the ref so he’d understand his infraction. Mike bolted from the stands and onto the court with a defiant finger pointing at the ref, yelling that it was a baseless call. Security quickly escorted Mike from the arena to allow the game to go on.

However, a local news photographer had captured the moment and the picture appeared on the front sports page of a local tabloid. Someone at Life magazine, obviously taken by the intensity depicted in the photo, decided the entire country needed to see this amazing level of fan support. The picture of Mike on the court was included on Life’s last page, which was titled Miscellany. The photo caption identified Mike as the St. Joe’s fan, “with beverage in hand.”

After Life’s publication of the picture, Mike received several standing ovations the next week when entering classrooms.

Keep calm and enjoy your Monday. I’ll be back with you tomorrow morning.

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Happy Saturday.

Today, I’m talking about a “Filmadelphia” movie that captures feeling lost in life, love, and youth in the city.

But first, read on for details on the FBI and Philly police raids on an alleged Kensington drug gang, a Philadelphia-based company helping pay for President Donald Trump’s controversial ballroom, and our weekly report card on this week in news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• FBI Director Kash Patel was in Philadelphia Friday to announce the results of a large-scale investigation into a Kensington-based drug gang, in line with the Trump administration’s nationwide crackdown on suspected drug dealers.
• Comcast is among major U.S. corporations footing part of the $300 million bill for the construction of Trump’s proposed ballroom at the White House.
• Two Plymouth Township police officers were hospitalized Friday after a driver allegedly injured them intentionally with a vehicle in a hotel parking lot. The suspect is in custody.
• A Malvern man who was arrested for bringing a gun and other weapons to a “No Kings” protest over the summer is now in federal custody on charges involving making and possessing explosive devices.
• Toys R Us will open more than two dozen flagship stores and holiday pop-up stores across the country by the end of the year, including two in the Philadelphia area.
• Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro will campaign this weekend for two Democratic governor hopefuls, New Jersey’s U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger.
• Ocean City has declared a local emergency and urged state and federal officials to help after suffering severe beach erosion during recent storms.
• A Delaware County man trolled a Philly Mag writer on Facebook. Now, a judge has ordered him to pay $160,000.
• An estate and former convent in Chestnut Hill has been converted to host galleries centering on local artists by the Woodmere Museum. It opens to the public on Nov. 1.
• From Burgergate to the Schuylkill sinkhole, we graded the good, bad, and weird from the latest Philly news.

My Filmadelphia pick

Sunday marks the conclusion of the 34th Philadelphia Film Festival, and I’m still thinking about one I saw last weekend: Alice-Heart, a gem of a movie showcased under the Filmadelphia program. These are films that are made for Philly, by Philly.

The city, seen through monochromatic lens all throughout, may as well have had acting credits. With the Schuylkill River Trail, the Broad Street Line, and food favorites like Crown Fried Chicken as the backdrop, the titular 20-something tries to find meaning and figure herself out in this quaint city full of possibilities.

Watching Alice-Heart was like watching a train wreck of the chaotic college student life, from the messy to the vulnerable and earnest. It was a sincere portrait of young, passionate people who find themselves trapped in a mess of their own making. The film also felt authentic to itself. I could tell that the people making it love Philly, and that they had fun telling this story. As for myself and the audience, if our collective reactions throughout were any indication, we certainly had fun watching it.

(Psst: You can catch it one last time Saturday at 2 p.m. at Film Society East.)

In other Film Fest news: West Philly native Colman Domingo will be honored on Sunday for his contributions to cinema and the city.

One viewpoint

In 2013, Philadelphia City Council created the Land Bank to help the city acquire and sell vacant, blighted, and tax-delinquent properties. Despite its goal, the agency has been bogged down by dysfunction.

In the latest edition of Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks how a shake-up by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker could lead to more affordable housing.

🧠 Trivia time

Somewhere in Philly, you can find the grave of Benjamin Franklin, marking the Founding Father’s final resting place (unless you believe rumors of his ghost still lurking around).

Where is it?

A) Penn’s Landing

B) Franklin Institute

C) City Hall

D) Old City

Think you know? Our new (weekly!) Citywide Quest game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Nobel Peace Prize winner

AYALA FAMOUS LIZA

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

Cheers to Kathleen Wersinger who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Carousel House. The West Philly rec center will be Philly’s “flagship.” But people with disabilities will have to wait until 2028 to reunite.

🪩 We were there

Seniors — both senior citizens and high school seniors — let their youthful spirits flow on the dance floor at the 12th annual Golden Age Prom in Cherry Hill on Thursday. Denali Sagner and staff photographer Yong Kim bring us this dispatch from the party.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

A post on X declared: “the prettiest girl you know is probably an Eagles fan.” Naturally, a Philadelphian obliged, immediately proving the point.

The parking situation in South Philadelphia is tight. Nothing new … but this is one wild maneuver.

A Redditor recently shared blissful views from a fall morning walk at Pennypack Park.

And over on Facebook, people are reminiscing in the comments about a 1960s-era photo of the Dupont Street steps in Manayunk. One nicknamed the climb “The Alps of Philadelphia.”

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

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

It’s Friday, Philly. It’s also time to bring your plants inside, with frost advisories possible through the weekend.

A local couple is asking you to reconsider the rock dove with their Philly Pigeon Tours.

And Johnny Doc played a pivotal role electing his brother to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Ten years later, things are different.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. Friday means trivia. Our latest news quiz includes questions on an art theft, a “No Kings” cameo, and more.

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Preaching pigeon empathy

Pigeons once enjoyed high status across ancient cultures as symbols of love, safety, and war. Today, they’re more likely to be viewed as another urban annoyance. You might even know them as “rats with wings.”

🪶 But modern pigeons, aka rock doves, are just misunderstood, according to Hannah Michelle Brower and Aspen Simone. The couple came to appreciate the birds after caring for an ailing one, now named Primrose.

🪶 Their love for their adopted pet has grown into a popular weekly birding tour in the Italian Market (and soon, West Philly), plus a podcast. “We debunk a lot of pigeon misinformation and replace it with facts,” Brower said.

🪶 Their story might just give you a new perspective on the city’s winged — and, in two enthusiasts’ telling, surprisingly cuddly — residents.

Culture reporter Mike Newall has the bird’s-eye view of South Philadelphia.

A family connection

Though it’s been a year since former Philly labor leader John Dougherty reported to federal prison on embezzlement and bribery convictions, his name still looms over Pennsylvania’s elections.

His brother, Kevin Dougherty, is one of three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices up for retention this November. A decade ago, John helped get Kevin elected through the backing of his union, Local 98.

This time around, labor is still spending big on the justice’s retention, though Kevin says his brother is not involved. Republicans have still sought to tie the judge to John’s misdeeds.

Politics reporters Gillian McGoldrick and Katie Bernard explain.

What you should know today

• Failures in the domestic assault and kidnapping cases of Keon King, who is accused of killing Kada Scott, go beyond prosecutors withdrawing earlier charges, a review of police and court records shows. Plus, Scott’s death has prompted City Council to probe the Philadelphia justice system’s handling of domestic violence cases.
• A sixth person will go to trial over the September 2022 shooting outside Roxborough High School that killed 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde and wounded four others.
• A masonry company executive who bribed an Amtrak manager over lucrative 30th Street Station contracts was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in prison.
• The wife of Par Funding’s founder was sentenced to one day in prison — the last prosecution of people tied to the fraudulent firm.
• Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Thursday announced a task force to crack down on illegal dumping, the work of which will include hefty violation notices and monitoring common dump sites.
• Ursinus College president Robyn E. Hannigan, who is in her fourth year at the small liberal arts school in Collegeville, was abruptly removed from the job Thursday.
• More than 300,000 Pennsylvanians need help heating their homes. The federal shutdown has delayed that assistance.
• Philadelphia played host to several cash handoffs tied to a national sports betting scandal involving the NBA, poker games, and the mafia.
• Construction of a new bridge connecting the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Turnpikes could begin in 2031. One of two options will be chosen next spring.

Plus: Where is the ‘Umbrella Man’ statue that used to reside outside the Prince Theater?

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

This week, we’re resurfacing an explainer from 2019 on the fate of Allow Me, the lifelike, 6-foot-10 sculpture colloquially known as “Umbrella Man.” He disappeared after the former Prince Theater — now owned by the Philadelphia Film Society, hosting its 34th annual Philadelphia Film Festival this week — declared bankruptcy in 2010.

But he didn’t go far. 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 owners of Surfside, the popular Philly-made canned cocktail, are suing Anheuser-Busch over what?

A) Pretending to own Surfside

B) The packaging of its own hard teas

C) Calling Surfside “disgusting”

D) Stealing its secret recipe

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

✈️ Remembering: That time Charles Lindbergh criticized Philly’s airport.

🇺🇸 Celebrating: “52 Weeks of Firsts” in 2026.

👻 Buying: Tickets to the Wanamaker Building’s spooky film series.

🥙 Following: Jersey Kebab from Haddon Township to Collingswood.

🥫 Considering: How work requirements impact Philadelphians’ SNAP benefits.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: West Philly rec center closed in 2021

SCOUR ALEHOUSE

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

Cheers to Eileen Weigand, who solved Thursday’s anagram: city controller. Christy Brady, seeking her first full term as Philly’s fiscal watchdog, is being challenged by Republican Ari Patrinos in the Nov. 4 general election.

Photo of the day

🏓 One last squeaky thing: The biggest squash event in the United States is at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in University City this week. Now is a great time to get into the sport, with the 2028 Olympic Games set to include it for the first time.

Thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer. Enjoy the weekend.

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

We made it to Thursday, Philly. In case you weren’t sure: Earth still has just one moon.

Is 2025 Philadelphia’s year of the parking garage? An unusual number of stand-alone garages have been proposed in the city this year, even as costs to build and maintain them surge.

And in Bucks County, plans for a massive data center has spurred a call to protect consumers from getting hit with power grid costs.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

Editor’s note: We’re sending this morning’s Sports Daily a little late after contending with some technical challenges. We apologize for the delay.

P.S. The Inquirer Food Fest at the Fillmore will assemble the Philly scene’s biggest stars for a day of food, live beats, and hands-on fun. Get your ticket to the Nov. 15 event now.

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‘It’s like building a house for a car’

In a city with too many cars and not enough places to put them all, few civic issues are as polarizing to Philadelphians as parking, especially in densely developed areas like Fishtown.

Three large stand-alone parking garages have been proposed for the city in recent months:

🚧 A 372-unit garage, plus commercial and restaurant space, near the Fillmore and Rivers Casino

🚧 A 495-unit garage in University City, about a fourth of which will be used by a new police forensic lab

🚧 A 1,005-unit garage in Grays Ferry for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia employees

That last project has drawn criticism from neighbors concerned about lost green space and worsened air quality.

Commercial real estate reporter Jake Blumgart explains why developers are keen on building, despite some community protest — and why longtime parking operators aren’t so sure the projects make sense.

In other development news: Councilmember Jamie Gauthier has authored legislation that would increase community scrutiny of major land-use decisions by universities. An antiquated industrial building on North Broad Street near Race Street is being converted to 99 apartments and over 4,000 square feet in restaurant space. And a New York supermarket chain is expected to open a location inside a former South Philly Walgreens.

Data center cost concerns

The capacity and reliability of electrical grids across the United States has emerged as a major issue as data centers rush to go online — including in Bucks County.

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced in June that a data center would be built on the site of a former Falls Township steel mill. It’s one of two big projects Amazon has planned in Pennsylvania to support its cloud computing and artificial intelligence efforts.

An independent monitor is now calling for a transmission service agreement between Peco and Amazon Data Services be rejected, saying it doesn’t go far enough to ensure the cost of heightened energy use is not passed to local consumers.

Environment reporter Frank Kummer has the story.

What you should know today

• Keon King has been charged with murder and may have had help burying the body of 23-year-old Kada Scott, officials said Wednesday. Text messages were also revealed.
• Three men were convicted of first-degree murder and related crimes for a 2023 shooting at a North Philly playground that left three people dead and one injured, prosecutors said Wednesday.
• Two men who set a Fairhill building on fire in 2022 that then collapsed, killing a responding Philadelphia fire lieutenant, were each sentenced Wednesday to decades in prison.
• The mother of a 20-month-old who died in a Harrowgate foster home is suing two child welfare agencies for placing the toddler in a crowded house.
• Dozens of local Catholics rallied outside the federal immigration office in Center City on Wednesday, joining a pro-immigrant push by church groups around the country.
• A grassroots coalition of parents, teachers, and community members is demanding that the Philadelphia School District halt its plan to close schools.
• A University of Pennsylvania faculty group says students and professors have been unfairly called in to stand against “specious accusations of antisemitism.”
• SEPTA must inspect 225 Silverliner IV Regional Rail trains by the end of October. As of midday Wednesday, the transit agency had inspected 78.

Quote of the day

Cahillites coach Rick Prete once turned to football in a moment of need. Now it has become a community for him and his wife, Gabriela, to lean on after their daughter Arianna died in a 2024 car crash.

🧠 Trivia time

New Jersey officials have sued which company, saying it misclassified and exploited its workers?

A) Comcast

B) Google

C) Amazon

D) Johnson & Johnson

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🏀 Kicking off: Another season of wondering how our Sixers will perform.

⛳ Swinging at: Cherry Hill’s new PGA Tour Superstore.

🔬 Considering: How medical experts are stepping up to share credible scientific guidance.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Elected position in local government

LOT INCORRECTLY

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

Cheers to Christine Sulat, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Fort Washington. This suburb is home to one of 11 exciting new pizzerias around the region — plus, see four others our food team is eagerly awaiting.

Photo of the day

Take a stroll amid the changing foliage today, if you can. Either way, have a good one.

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.

Getting out of Lincoln Financial Field after an Eagles game can be a slow-moving nightmare. Inquirer staffers raced by car, bike, rideshare, and public transportation to find the fastest route.

And Philadelphia’s violent Mafia power struggle of the 1990s is chronicled in a Netflix docuseries out today. Read on for a primer, told through reporting from that period by The Inquirer and the Daily News.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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A race to beat the postgame rush

Getting out of any event at the South Philly sports complex is a harrowing experience. That goes double for Eagles games, when nearly 70,000 fans are trying to exit the Linc at once. Besides my own tried-and-true method of getting ahead of the masses — leaving early — what’s the most efficient route out?

For the sake of journalism, four colleagues and I agreed to put ourselves through mild torture via a race from Xfinity Gate to Dalessandro’s in Roxborough. We took off by foot a few minutes after the Oct. 5 Broncos game ended, then each traveled by a different mode:

🚕 Sports reporter Ariel Simpson hailed an Uber.

🚇 Graphics editor John Duchneskie took SEPTA.

🚗 Breaking news reporter Henry Savage drove from the Q lot to I-95.

🚲 Interactives developer Jasen Lo rode his bike along MLK Drive.

🚙 And this newsletter editor drove from FDR Park to I-76.

Was voluntarily inserting ourselves into postgame swarms of disappointed Birds fans more than a little stressful? Yes. Did I take the competition far too seriously, resulting in an end-of-race sprint from my car to Dalessandro’s? Unfortunately, also yes.

See who won — and if you’re guessing, you’re probably wrong.

Recounting Philadelphia’s Mafia power struggle

Netflix’s Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia is out today. The docuseries chronicles a bloody 1990s power struggle in the local La Cosa Nostra through the eyes of investigators and former crime family members who were there.

Throughout the decade, the violence led to several high-profile deaths and criminal trials, and a new mob leader in the city.

Reporter Nick Vadala explains how the mob war unfolded in the news more than 30 years ago.

Further reading: In the ’90s, mob boss John Stanfa didn’t have a nickname. The Daily News tried to change that. And a South Philly native was a central Mafia figure who now says he regrets ever having joined. Meet hitman-turned-informant John Veasey.

P.S. Another Philly-tied production begins streaming this week: Allen Iv3rson, the former Sixers star’s new Prime Video doc.

What you should know today

• Lawyers filed a petition seeking the release of Michael Gaynor, saying he was wrongfully convicted of killing a 5-year-old in 1988. The petition cited the work of a 2024 Inquirer investigation.
• Four years ago, the Philadelphia School District scuttled plans to redevelop the crumbling Ada H.H. Lewis Middle School in East Germantown. The discovery of Kada Scott’s body near the vacant building has reignited the debate over its future.
• Former President Joe Biden completed a round of radiation therapy at a Penn Medicine cancer center Monday as part of his treatment for prostate cancer, according to a representative.
• President Donald Trump’s administration on Tuesday asked a Center City federal appeals court to overturn an order that has blocked the deportation of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.
• Sen. John Fetterman, the Democrat from Pennsylvania, said he’d back a Republican plan to override the Senate filibuster if it meant passing a bill to reopen the federal government. Meanwhile, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has entered the messaging battle over the cause of the disruption to SNAP benefits.
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia filed a blistering legal response Monday to White House efforts to investigate doctors providing gender-affirming care.
• Pennsylvania still doesn’t have a state budget, with the Republican-led Senate on Tuesday approving a budget bill that Democrats say wouldn’t even cover the state’s obligations.
• Delaware County Democrats have dominated county government for six years, but Republicans think a recent property tax increase could change that trend.
• Philly lawmakers are trying for the third time to pass legislation requiring that stores charge customers a fee for paper bags. Again, it’s facing opposition from the mayor.
• Alycia Marshall, who has been serving as interim president of Community College of Philadelphia, has been unanimously endorsed for the permanent role.

Quote of the day

The Rev. Carolyn Cavaness has become something of a celebrity in the last year. She is the first woman pastor of Mother Bethel, known as a hub for Black activism and the oldest church property in the United States to be owned continuously by Black people.

🧠 Trivia time

Another Pennsylvania politician is releasing a memoir, this one in January. Who is it?

A) Gov. Josh Shapiro

B) State Sen. Vincent Hughes

C) Treasurer Stacy Garrity

D) District Attorney Larry Krasner

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🗺️ Making one big map of: All the Philly-area locations you can see in the first season of Task.

🫴 Understanding, kinda: The “six-seven” meme’s maybe-Philly origins.

🌲 Pretty sure that: Delco is not … rural.

⚽ Wanting in on: The United States’ continent-wide bid for the 2031 women’s World Cup.

🏥 Considering: How frontline workers can drive change to stop emergency room violence.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Place in Montgomery County

FONTINA GROWTHS

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

Cheers to Afrah Howlader, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Point Breeze. A once-crumbling church in the South Philadelphia neighborhood is being preserved as a brewery and community space.

Photo of the day

Wishing you an easy Wednesday. 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.

Hi, Philly. Expect another sunny, gusty day.

A charter school in Northeast Philadelphia has been roiled by upheaval and turnover. Now, its renewal is on hold.

And after another stellar regular season, another unceremonious end in the National League Division Series, and several core players set to hit free agency, it’s time to ask: Who should return to the Phillies in 2026 and who should move on? Swipe to tell the team who should stay or go.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘Beyond frustrated’

Northwood Academy Charter School was for years known as a tight-knit community led by educators who stayed for decades.

Yet recently, parents and staff have reported problems such as administrators and teachers departing by the dozens, academic issues, and low morale. The Frankford school’s charter renewal is on pause amid a district investigation.

Some critics say the changes began when the Northwood board hired an external human resources firm to examine the school’s hiring practices. Instead of helping, they say, the firm pushed staff out.

“Every day, teachers and staff are thinking of walking away,” the school’s union president said. “And our families are beginning to look elsewhere, because they feel the shift. The school that we once knew and loved has become unrecognizable.”

Reporter Kristen A. Graham has the story.

In other education news: The Community College of Philadelphia’s board of trustees is preparing to select a new president, possibly as soon as this morning. Meet the four candidates.

Phillies’ fate

After a brutal ending to an otherwise thrilling season, our National League East-winning Phillies are solidly in the offseason. We’ve mourned the World Series that wasn’t. But now, we’re moving on.

⚾ It’s time to look forward to 2026.

⚾ This transition period comes as several key members of the core crew are set to hit free agency, including pitcher Ranger Suárez, catcher J.T. Realmuto, and home-run hero Kyle Schwarber.

⚾ Should the team choose to let them go, the Phillies can spend many millions of dollars to bring on fresh talent instead.

So, should they? Swipe to see our picks and make your own.

What you should know today

• Prosecutors on Monday charged Keon King, the man accused of kidnapping Kada Scott earlier this month, with arson, accusing him of setting fire to the car they say he used to abduct her — and said they soon intend to charge him with murder.
• A Montgomery County woman who let her son with cerebral palsy waste away in her apartment was sentenced Monday to decades in prison.
• Nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians, including 500,000 Philadelphia residents, won’t receive SNAP benefits in November if the federal government shutdown continues, state officials said. Medicare coverage for telehealth also has been suspended amid the shutdown, though two local health systems say they will continue providing virtual visits for patients.
• City Council members on Monday advanced legislation to make it easier for the city to shut down stores that sell cannabis and tobacco products without licenses. Their landlords could be next.
• Mayor Cherelle L. Parker is shaking up the board of the Philadelphia Land Bank, which helps control the sale of city-owned land, in a bid to further her housing plan.
• Cheltenham High’s football season has been canceled as officials pursue an investigation into alleged hazing by the team.
• Seven months after announcing his retirement following 15 seasons with the Eagles, Brandon Graham is set rejoin the team, league sources told The Inquirer.

Quote of the day

The Dallas Wings player recently visited Rome and met Pope Leo after attending Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica. The new pope has gone viral for his White Sox fandom and has been pictured in Villanova hats on multiple occasions since assuming his new role, but on this visit, Siegrist said he was careful to stay impartial.

🧠 Trivia time

An Apple Studios movie with a very Philly name is now casting extras ahead of filming in the city next month. What’s it called?

A) Gritty

B) Cheesesteak

C) LOVE Park

D) Wooder Ice

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

👑 Thinking about: Past art thefts in Philly, thanks to the Louvre jewel heist.

🎭 Congratulating: The winners of the 2025 Barrymore Awards.

⚽ Attending: The Union’s playoff pep rally at City Hall on Thursday.

🏡 Ogling: The wooded Malvern-area home of a famous Main Line builder.

🗳️ Considering: The potential impact of mid-decade gerrymandering.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: South Philadelphia neighborhood

PREZONE BITE

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

Cheers to Brian Tucker, who solved Monday’s anagram: Jose Garces. Amada, the restaurateur’s flagship eatery in Philly, turned 20 — and got a glow-up.

Photo of the day

Run on and enjoy your Tuesday. See ya 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. Look up: Comet Lemmon will appear in the region’s skies the next several evenings.

“Philly crime” and the specter of Donald Trump are dominating two Bucks County law enforcement races. Their results will be a sort of political thermometer ahead of the 2026 midterms.

And the University of Pennsylvania Health System is investing more than $500 million in new cancer facilities amid rising regional competition.

Plus, Michael Days, who led the Philadelphia Daily News during its 2010 Pulitzer Prize win for investigative reporting, has died at 72. Read on for these stories and more.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. Today is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 4 general election. See The Inquirer’s Philly voters guide for more dates to know.

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

Eyes on local sheriff and DA races

Violent crime is way down from its pandemic highs in Philadelphia. But you wouldn’t know it from Republicans’ digital ads for the sheriff and district attorney races urging voters to “keep Philly crime out of Bucks County.”

🌡️ The tactic follows the playbook of President Donald Trump, who has made exaggerated claims about crime in blue cities throughout his presidency.

🌡️ Democrats, meanwhile, seek to portray the GOP incumbents as Trump allies and thus inspire voters who are frustrated with national politics to turn out as a sort of protest.

🌡️ These tensions in the purple suburban county, which Trump narrowly won last November, mean the local races will be a temperature check on how swing voters are responding to his second term as well as to gauge their enthusiasm ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Reporters Katie Bernard and Vinny Vella have the story on Bucks candidates’ stances and strategies.

In other government news: Pennsylvania state government relies on H-1B workers. Trump wants to charge employers $100,000 for those visas. And U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania has joined fellow Senate Republicans in urging top health officials in the Trump administration to rescind approval for an abortion pill.

Competition in cancer care

Following years of growth, Penn Medicine, the region’s biggest provider of cancer care and a national leader in developing new treatments, is spending more than $500 million on two new cancer facilities in Philadelphia and central New Jersey.

Other regional health systems are expanding their cancer services, too, especially in the suburbs, as more patients seek care closer to home.

The trend comes amid financial pressure to increase revenue — and as cancer diagnoses rise.

Reporter Harold Brubaker explains the business of cancer care.

More health news: A cold triggered an autoimmune disease in a Pennsylvania man. Now he’s channeling his challenges into advocacy for people with rare diseases.

What you should know today

• DNA analysis confirmed Sunday that the body recovered the day before in East Germantown is that of 23-year-old Kada Scott, according to law enforcement sources. New details also emerged about what led investigators to her remains.
• Billionaire Marc Rowan made secret large donations to the University of Pennsylvania, where he heads Wharton’s advisory board, after he led campaigns to oust leaders and urged alumni to stop donating.
• New Jersey’s first Hispanic federal judge, U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez, has retired after 40 years on the bench.
• Temple University’s main campus fell about 700 students short of its enrollment projection, which translates to about $10 million in lost revenue. Plus: The school recently received a record $55 million gift from an alumnus whose application almost didn’t get accepted.
• SEPTA must inspect 225 Silverliner IV Regional Rail trains by the end of October. As of Friday, the transit agency had inspected 58.
• A new study found that access to youth sports is unequal in Philadelphia. The city is looking to change that.
• Former defensive end Brandon Graham is considering ending his retirement and rejoining the Eagles, league sources told The Inquirer.
• Singer David Byrne, amid three shows at the Met Philadelphia, attended the city’s “No Kings” march on Saturday. “I wanted to be here for this,” a fan recalled him saying.

Plus: Remembering Michael Days

Michael Days, the award-winning journalist who led the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer in various roles over a celebrated career, died suddenly on Saturday at the age of 72 in Trenton.

A longtime mentor to young journalists and past president of the National Association of Black Journalists’ Philadelphia chapter, Days is remembered by former colleagues and peers as a respected leader and steadfast advocate of his team.

“He was the kind of person who wanted to serve,” his wife, Angela Dodson, said Sunday. “People could talk to him, and he had something wise to say.”

Read more on Days’ life and legacy.

🧠 Trivia time

The creator of which notable work received the National Constitution Center’s prestigious Liberty Medal on Friday?

A) Hamilton the musical

B) Hamnet the film

C) Fat Ham the play

D) Hamilton the biography

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🗺️ Mapping: The local spots in the Task season finale, including the Media courthouse. (Psst: The show has a bittersweet ending — just as Berwyn-based creator Brad Ingelsby intended.)

🚨 Noting: These five things contributing to Philly’s improved homicide clearance rate.

📜 Learning about: This program that helps Philly homeowners write wills to protect their properties.

🌲 Plotting a visit to: This Bucks County couple’s architectural retreat in the woods.

👐 Considering: How threats to immigrant workers impact the communities that depend on their labor.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Philadelphia restaurateur

CREASE JOGS

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

Cheers to Dana Carter, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Pemberton. A soybean farmer in the Burlington County borough says his job is harder now because of warehouses, rising costs, and tariffs. He’s determined to adapt and endure.

Photo of the day

The latest in our How I Bought My House series features a family of eight who made a few compromises, but ultimately found a haven on a quiet block.

📬 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 Diane Page, who describes a memorable exchange:

Walked into a tiny bakery in South Philly. “How long you been here?” I inquire. “99 years next month,” the counterman says. I peruse the baked goods. “I’ll take one of these rolls.” “Just one?” he asks. “Yep,” I say. “What, ya havin’ a party?” was the deadpan reply.

I’d been baptized with that Philly attitude, fell in love with the city right then and there.

May you fall in love with Philadelphia anew 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.