Category: Inquirer Morning Newsletter

Morning, Philly. The city’s snowpack is close to thawing. In the meantime, it’s still causing hardship for commuters and students — including those at Greenberg Elementary in the Northeast, which relocated kids on Monday due to weather-related building issues.

McGillin’s Olde Ale House has leaned hard into being the place where more couples have met than anywhere else in Philadelphia. The Center City pub even hosted a reunion for them.

And what makes someone love their grocery store? Ask the local shoppers who are already missing their Amazon Fresh, despite less-affectionate feelings about the chain’s billionaire owner.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Love in this pub

McGillin’s Olde Ale House has a well-earned reputation as matchmaker. An estimated 200-plus couples have met at the 166-year-old pub. Among the people who found love on Drury Street:

🍻 The Italian visitor impressed by the bold woman sitting at the bar

🥃 The regular who disagrees with his now-wife over the details of their 1969 meeting — and whose brother met his own wife there

🍗 The Tinder user whose suggested date of beer and wings led to a pub proposal three years later

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, meet these couples and more in Zoe Greenberg’s report from McGillin’s inaugural reunion party for lovers.

More on romance: Looking for the perfect date-night spot to take your cutie of choice? Answer five questions and let our Date Finder match you with the best local restaurant for your vibe.

‘It actually started to feel like a neighborhood grocery store’

E-commerce giant Amazon recently closed all of its physical Amazon Fresh stores, including six in the Philadelphia area. Nearly 1,000 local workers were laid off.

The chain’s closure has prompted strong responses from some shoppers — not because they love the Jeff Bezos-owned company, but because they feel loyal to their stores’ employees, as well as to what’s cheap, close to home, or has the best selection.

And they don’t expect to feel the same way about Whole Foods if the fellow Amazon brand takes over the old Fresh stores.

In their own words: “I don’t feel bad for Amazon,” a former patron of the Northern Liberties location told The Inquirer. “I feel bad for the workers … I feel bad for the community members.”

Consumer reporter Erin McCarthy has the story on what makes a Philly shopper loyal to a grocery store.

🍋‍🟩 In other food news: Philly-based national delivery service Gopuff says orders for limes during the Super Bowl jumped more than 600% over previous Sundays in 2026.

What you should know today

• Health officials have reported two deaths related to the city’s stretch of freezing temperatures in recent weeks.
• Philadelphia’s Democratic Party has endorsed State Sen. Sharif Street for the city’s open congressional seat.
• Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Abington Township neighbors filed a federal lawsuit against Pennsylvania’s first couple, the latest clash over security upgrades to his personal home.
• About 85,000 people who bought Pennie plans in 2025 did not renew for this year after tax credits expired and consumers costs spiked.
• The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority is asking the Trump administration for a waiver from so-called Build America, Buy America rules because the cranes it needs aren’t made in the U.S.
• Changes to Philly’s special-admission process exacerbated low enrollment at some magnets. Now, the school district is trying to close them.
• Two more Philadelphia Museum of Art senior staffers are departing as the museum continues to plot out its path after a period of institutional turmoil.
• Ozempic and other GLP-1s have cut into the volume of bariatric surgeries in Philadelphia and nationally. But surgeons say the need for the procedures will continue.
• The city’s statue of world heavyweight champion “Smokin’” Joe Frazier could take Rocky’s place at the base of the Art Museum steps.

Quote of the day

The Southwest Philadelphia-born singer is the star of a Visit Philly’s Indivisible campaign, a yearlong initiative highlighting the city’s diverse tourist destinations during America’s 250th birthday.

Plus: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was born at Carpenters Hall in Old City, where it declared its independence from Britain. The historic site is celebrating the state’s own Semiquincentennial with a yearlong event series.

🧠 Trivia time

Moore College of Art and Design announced Monday that it will consider making what big change in 2027?

A) Ending its focus on visual arts

B) Moving to the suburbs

C) Opening undergraduate programs to men

D) Doubling in size

Think you know? Check your answer.

What and whom we’re …

💃 Applauding: The Mayfair woman who helped break down Bad Bunny’s halftime show stage in under seven minutes.

🏒 Watching: These Czech and Canadian Flyers teammates play each other at the Olympics.

🍣 Saying goodbye to: Center City’s longest-operating Japanese restaurant.

🦅 Reviewing: Our updated guide to the 2026 Eagles offseason.

🇺🇸 Considering: What American citizenship means now.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Malvern-based investment company

VANDA RUG

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

Cheers to Priscilla Samuelson, who solved Monday’s anagram: Willistown. Roadside bakeries are growing in Chester County, including in this township.

Photo of the day

Jump for joy! Slightly warmer weather is on its way. See you then.

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Welcome to a new week, Philly. Cue the nostalgia: One year ago, the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX.

Today, we look forward to another sports championship — indeed, the world’s largest — which will take place partly in Philadelphia this summer.

And we’ve debated “savesies” culture a few times in this newsletter, but with remnants of January’s storm still lingering, the topic is, maddeningly, as relevant as ever. Hear from the frustrated Philadelphians who thought they had a winter parking system, until the snow stuck around.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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The other football

Did you know? The first event held at Lincoln Financial Field was a preseason friendly between European football club giants Manchester United and Barcelona in 2003. In a way, sports editor Kerith Gabriel argues, you could say Philly was built for soccer.

That assertion will be put to the test this summer when the city hosts a slate of FIFA World Cup games. Here’s what to know about the international men’s soccer tournament’s local events:

🏟️ Nine nations will compete in five group stage matches starting June 14, plus two more in a knockout game on July 4. Nearly 100 more games are happening in 15 other North American cities.

🏟️ Those countries include soccer superstars France and Brazil, as well as smaller teams with great stories. Haiti, for instance, could make history if Union midfielder Danley Jean Jacques joins his country’s team.

🏟️ See our guide for visitors on how to navigate the city and other major events — including the Wawa Welcome America festival — that will overlap with the Cup’s Philly games.

In other summer event news: We have more details about the city’s 250th celebration. Expect a massive parade, six days of fireworks, and … Floridian Segway riders?

‘It’s like the Wild West out here’

Back in the wintry present and 15 days out from January’s big snowstorm, Philly residents are still wrapping themselves in cozy layers, penguin-walking over icy sidewalks, and digging out their cars.

That last one has kept tensions high in some pockets of the city where frozen mounds make parking tricky. Spot-marking folding chairs and traffic cones abound.

But if you dug out a space soon after the snow stopped falling, can you still lay claim to it now, weeks later? Could you ever? Philadelphians are grappling with this existential debate with renewed vigor after years of light or no snowfall. It’s about more than right and wrong.

Notable quote: “I don’t believe in the chair. But I’m going to obey the chair,” one South Philly resident told The Inquirer. Why? “I don’t want to get keyed.”

Reporter Abigail Covington has frustrated Philadelphians’ wildest savesies stories.

What you should know today

• A man died in North Philadelphia on Saturday night after being shot, police said.
• U.S. Sen. John Fetterman said Sunday that he “absolutely” expects the Department of Homeland Security will shut down Friday as negotiations over immigration enforcement have stalled.
• The Pennsylvania Republican and Democratic Parties on Saturday both locked in their endorsements for the 2026 governor’s race.
• The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission is working to keep alive the city’s project to cap the Vine Street Expressway after the federal government yanked $150 million in promised funding.
• Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s campaign raised $1.7 million last year, though she won’t face reelection until 2027. The figure reflects the increasingly professionalized world of political fundraising in Philadelphia.
• City Council President Kenyatta Johnson said he’s willing to hold up city funding to the Philly school district over concerns about its closure and consolidation plan.
• Philadelphia-born Noam Chomsky counseled Jeffrey Epstein on how to handle media scrutiny in 2019, federal files show. The academic’s wife apologized for the couple’s “lapse in judgement.”
• Amid White House efforts to shrink the federal workforce, hundreds of people in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have used a job site that connects federal workers to public service work.
• A long vacant parking garage in Washington Square West could soon be the site of a K-8 Jewish day school.

Quote of the day

Chile native Muriel Crescenzo earned her United States citizenship Tuesday morning, after over three years of waiting and over seven with her husband, James. On Tuesday evening, they celebrated by watching the Flyers take home a 4-2 win against the Washington Capitals.

More hockey news: Flyers coach Rick Tocchet’s late parents emigrated from Italy. Now, he’s back there to coach Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics. And Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is finally playing with his native Finland — the defending gold medalists — after years of injuries.

🧠 Trivia time

The U.S. Mint’s production facility in Philadelphia employs a team of medallic artists who translate history into pocket-sized art. Which landmark is the facility near?

A) City Hall

B) Elfreth’s Alley

C) Philadelphia Museum of Art

D) Independence Hall

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🐕 Obsessed with: The Pennsylvania pups turned Puppy Bowl stars — and adoptees.

📱 Loving: This story of “chosen brothers,” from a maximum-security prison to life on the outside.

⛸️ Watching: Snowboarding, figure skating, and speed skating according to NBC’s Olympics streaming schedule.

💤 Learning: How pink noise could disrupt sleep quality.

📚 Considering: The central importance of Black history to American history.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Township in Chester County

TIN WILLOWS

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

Cheers to Steve Forte, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Jefferson Health. The nonprofit system is taking on a project to boost emergency department capacity at Abington Hospital.

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.

Have a great week. Thanks for starting it with The Inquirer.

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

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

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

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

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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A new era

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

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

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

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

Dive in with Dan DeLuca.

🎡 Eclipsing Wonderland

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

❓Pop quiz

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

A) opera singer

B) flight attendant

C) bookkeeper

D) train conductor

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Nonprofit system (two words) 🏥

FEATHER JOH SHELF

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

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

🪗 Photo of the day

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

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

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

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.

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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.

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

Welcome to February.

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

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

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

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Philly’s ‘ultimate hype man’

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mortgage scheme

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

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

An enduring vision

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

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially expanded its recognition.

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

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

❓Pop quiz

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

A) Silk City

B) Broad Street Diner

C) Sulimay’s

D) Bob’s Diner

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: One of the most memorable moments in Eagles history

APPLY CHILLIES

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

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

Photo of the day

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

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

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

Good morning.

We’re still in the arctic-cold single digits, and snowpacks continue to melt at a glacial pace. Resident weather expert Tony Wood explains its profoundly chilling effect on cleanup efforts.

Today, we take on a reader’s question about unclaimed sleds on snowy hills.

Plus, there’s news on Sixers co-owner Josh Harris’ email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein, what customers are saying about Di Bruno Bros. closing three stores, and our weekly report card for the latest regional news.

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

What you should know today

• At a Friday hearing, a federal judge chastised a Trump administration attorney for making “dangerous” arguments over the abrupt removal of slavery-related exhibits from the President’s House. The judge said she will visit the site at Independence Mall before deciding the fate of the dismantled displays.
• One year ago today, a deadly medical jet crash devastated Northeast Philadelphia. City officials plan to hold a memorial observance this evening to honor its victims.
• Newly released emails reveal an ongoing business relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and Sixers co-owner Josh Harris. The records — buried within 3 million documents — shed light on a yearslong correspondence.
• While Di Bruno Bros. shoppers lamented the imminent closure of three grocery stores, some said that they weren’t surprised and that they had noticed a change in quality over the last few years.
• A month after dangerous winds led Mummers string bands to cancel their New Year’s Day Parade competition, one string band says it’ll be too cold to play Saturday’s makeup show at the Linc. Here’s how the Eagles and other Philly pro sports teams pulled strings of their own to help make the event happen.
• Journalist, tireless community activist, and “Philadelphia institution” Dan McQuade has died at 43. “He understood Philadelphians better than anyone because he was one,” a colleague said, “quirky and funny, competitive and humble, loyal and kind.”
• Eli Lilly plans to build a $3.5 billion pharmaceutical plant in the Lehigh Valley to expand manufacturing capacity for next-generation weight-loss medicines.
• An appeals court declined to reinstate racketeering charges against George Norcross. It will be up to a new attorney general to decide what’s next.
• A federal jury in Philadelphia ruled that Comcast owes a start-up company $240 million for infringing on its patent and using its voice-remote technology.
• From Center City West’s increasingly grimy sidewalks to the unhinged return of savesies, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.

About those stray sleds

With the snow sticking around, slopes across the Philadelphia region are still being used for sledding fun.

But what happens if you come across a lonely sled? We’re answering this reader question: Every time we go sledding, my kids somehow inevitably lose a sled. And every time, there seem to be extra, unclaimed sleds lying around. Is taking one of those stealing (from a child!), or just part of the karmic redistribution of sleds?

To discuss sled etiquette, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss called on two other fathers, reporters Jason Nark and Mike Newall. Their chat touched on every possible option, from posting about a found sled on Facebook to borrowing it for the afternoon — and then just leaving it be.

They also reminisced on the “rough business” of being a kid and fighting for your sled, and using things like garbage can lids as makeshift sleds. (That reminded me of this absolutely wild reel of a guy trying his luck with a suitcase, a mattress, and … a frying pan.)

Read along for their full take. And if you’re looking for advice, we’re all ears. Send in your pressing Philadelphia problems here.

One viewpoint

Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson is a strong advocate for snow days. Snow weeks? Not so much.

In the latest edition of Shackamaxon, Pearson gives his take on Philadelphia’s “underwhelming” snow response, as well as political incentives and the city’s “resign to run” provision.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this historic house is located?

Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s places and streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Music school

INTUIT CRUSTIEST

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

Cheers to Maria Francesconi, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Atlantic City. The resort hub’s international airport is getting more southbound flights on Breeze Airways.

We were there

Hundreds of the world’s best tattoo artists and their fans got together at the Villain Arts Tattoo Festival in Philadelphia Jan. 23 to 25. Staff photographer Tyger Williams captured the ink in action.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

“I beg your finest pardon?!?!?” This runner takes dedication to a whole new level.

Over on Facebook, the Philadelphia Art Museum posted Guy Carleton Wiggins’ 1935 piece “Snowstorm, Fifth Avenue” for the snowy occasion. I also saw this nice frosty sunrise view from Conshohocken.

And I’m still not over the car found encased in slush and ice in Fishtown. At least its windshield wipers are up…

👋🏽 That’s it for now. I’ll bring you the news again tomorrow morning.

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