Category: Inquirer Morning Newsletter

Happy Thursday, Philly.

What would hosting the 2028 Democratic National Convention mean for the city’s economy? It depends whom you ask.

And the decline of Philly basketball’s onetime legendary alliance began a long time ago, our sports columnist writes. Now it isn’t much of anything anymore — and the reasons are many.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘A chance to show off Philadelphia’

If Philadelphia lands its pitch to host the 2028 DNC, the city could see big economic gains — or not, experts say.

🔵 City and state officials and other boosters say the thousands of visitors expected to attend the convention would spend their money on hotels, meals, and attractions. A Visit Philly-commissioned report on the 2016 DNC found the event brought $230.9 million to the local economy.

🔵 Economists who have studied conventions say tourism groups’ lofty claims can be overblown. But at least one economic winner is clear: the hospitality industry.

🔵 “I can think of a few of examples of hotels making their annual budget based on the DNC alone,” the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association’s chief told The Inquirer, about a past convention held in the city.

🔵 And hosting the next DNC could have other benefits for Philly — breathless international media coverage, for one — with minimal financial tradeoffs.

City Hall reporters Sean Collins Walsh and Anna Orso have more.

In other local government news: City Council’s housing committee on Wednesday advanced two bills meant to help Philadelphia renters living in unsafe or unhealthy homes. And Mayor Cherelle L. Parker this week appointed former prosecutor Tito Valdes as Philadelphia’s new director of LGBTQ+ affairs.

What happened to Big 5 basketball?

🎤 Now I’m passing the mic to sports columnist Mike Sielski.

These days, most people who follow college basketball, if they’re being honest, have to acknowledge that the Big 5 isn’t much of anything anymore.

The round-robin rivalries among La Salle, Penn, St. Joe’s, Temple, Villanova, and more recently Drexel have lost most of their juice. That white-hot competition, fueled by the benign hatred that only proximity and familiarity can ignite, used to define Philadelphia hoops. It has cooled.

Now, just one school, Villanova, enters each season with the baseline expectation that it will qualify for the NCAA Tournament, and the pipeline of local recruits that once sustained these programs has all but dried up. — Mike Sielski

Ahead of March Madness, read his deep dive on what changed about the once-glorious Big 5.

More basketball news: Sixers center Andre Drummond always wanted a signature shoe. Instead, he got an entire brand.

What you should know today

• Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democratic senator to vote against curbing President Donald Trump’s power to order strikes in Iran.
• A statue of a founding father who enslaved people was taken down in Wilmington. It’s now moving to D.C.’s Freedom Plaza as part of Trump’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
• Pennsylvania voters broadly oppose some of Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics — but there’s a stark partisan split, a new poll found.
• Youth- and immigrant-rights advocates on Wednesday called on Gov. Josh Shapiro to close a Berks County center that holds immigrant children.
• At least four people were critically injured after a large explosion destroyed a commercial production building Wednesday in Logan Township, Gloucester County.
• A convenience store worker shot during a September armed robbery has sued a “skill games” manufacturer, alleging the casino-style devices on the Frankford premises motivated the attack.
• Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009. Last year, 81% of workers who earned that much or less were women.
• SEPTA expects to receive about $5.5 million from a federal appropriation to offset the cost of providing transit service in Philadelphia during the FIFA World Cup.
• Lankenau and Robeson High Schools are still fighting their proposed closures, even after Philadelphia school officials tweaked plans to appease them.

Quote of the day

While workplace gossip might not always be a wise idea, the practice has its benefits — like bonding among coworkers, this researcher says.

🧠 Trivia time

The mustard-yellow building of the former Italian bistro La Locanda del Ghiottone in Old City is set to be demolished and replaced with what?

A) Luxury condos

B) A performance space

C) The new Painted Bride headquarters

D) La Locanda del Ghiottone II

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🚘 Testing: E-ZPass stickers in place of those white windshield transponders.

🪻 Learning: The origins of the Philadelphia Flower Show.

🇵🇷 Answering: Why were the Parkway flags taken down this week?

⚽ Anticipating: Rob Mac-owned Wrexham AFC’s match at Subaru Park this summer.

🪴 Considering: This grieving mother’s plea to keep Lankenau High School open.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: _ Bakery

INTERPOL MOAT

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

Cheers to Nick Horiates, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: NASCAR. South Jersey’s Lavar Scott is NASCAR’s third active Black driver. He’s “trying to change the whole dynamic of motorsports.”

Photo of the day

🎉 One last hyped-up thing: Philadelphia Soccer 2026 marked the 100-day countdown before kickoff of the FIFA World Cup with a rally. The Tuesday event was emceed by Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham — who admitted to being a new fan of the sport.

Find something to celebrate today. Back at it tomorrow.

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Good morning, Philly.

As Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro seeks reelection, his business-friendly brand has drawn millions from CEOs — including some with interests in Harrisburg.

And can legacy brands like Coach bring Gen Z shoppers to the mall? Cherry Hill Mall executives think so.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Deep pockets

Gov. Shapiro has sought to build a profile as a pragmatic, business-friendly leader who can “get s— done.” He has also proven adept at raising campaign cash from people who have business interests before state government.

By the numbers: Nearly 240 executives gave almost $8.6 million to Shapiro’s reelection campaign last year, including 27 who gave $100,000 or more.

Industry ties: CEOs in industries ranging from coal mining to gambling to real estate are among those helping to bankroll the campaign. Many donors are based outside Pennsylvania, including the head of a Baltimore company seeking to restart a nuclear reactor near Harrisburg, and the Florida data center developer eyeing locations in the state.

Eyeing 2028: Shapiro’s fundraising could invite scrutiny if he makes a run for the White House, particularly among voters dismayed by the role of money in politics.

Reporters Andrew Seidman and Joe Yerardi dig into the data.

Retailers’ resurgence

Mall executives are counting on legacy brands to inspire consumers’ love of IRL shopping.

Consider Coach, the 85-year-old high-end retailer that has found renewed popularity among Gen Z and millennials. Younger fans say they like that it’s more affordable than other luxury brands, and that it lets them lean into the “Y2K, late-’90s, early-’90s nostalgia” fueled by social media.

Coach’s new shop in the Cherry Hill Mall is seen by the shopping destination’s leaders as one sign of its success — especially as other area malls close.

Consumer reporter Erin McCarthy explains how other legacy brands are faring amid shifting trends.

What you should know today

• The Trump administration has given shifting rationales for its decision to attack Iran, from regime change to eliminating its nuclear program. Plus, oil prices surged after the U.S.-Israel strikes, and the impacts have already started to trickle down to gas stations.
• The University of Pennsylvania was cut from the Pentagon’s list of colleges that will lose tuition assistance for military officers.
• Commerce Secretary and Haverford College mega-donor Howard Lutnick will testify before the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
• Nine firefighters were injured after a floor collapsed as they fought a two-alarm fire Monday night in Wynnefield.
• A former Burlington County mayor pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and child endangerment after an incident last March that prompted calls for her resignation. And a Montgomery County school bus driver was charged with driving under the influence and related crimes after she drove children while intoxicated, officials said.
• A federal jury in Philadelphia awarded $1.67 million to the sons of a diabetic man who died in a city jail in 2023.
• Pennsylvania had 12 confirmed cases of measles among state residents and two more involving visitors to the state as of Tuesday.
• Philly school officials want to close Harding Middle School in Frankford and replace it with a K-8. Teachers worry programs will be lost.
• Philadelphia launched a high-stakes charm campaign to lure the 2028 Democratic National Convention. With the city now a host finalist, what comes next is a public relations effort and fundraising push.

Quote of the day

Burpee, the Philly-born seed seller, celebrates 150 years in business alongside the country’s Semiquincentennial. It’s thriving again after past periods of financial trouble.

🧠 Trivia time

Former Phillies pitcher Phillippe Aumont left professional baseball in 2020, but the 37-year-old is returning with Team Canada — and he’ll face his old team today. What has he been up to the past few years?

A) Modeling

B) Studying for the bar exam

C) Coaching

D) Running a pig farm

Think you know? Check your answer.

🏒 Hockey fans: What is the Flyers’ plan for the NHL trade deadline? You can ask that question and more during a Reddit AMA with The Inquirer’s Jackie Spiegel today at 2 p.m. EST in the r/Flyers subreddit.

What we’re …

🛒 Remembering: When the A&P grocery chain said it was closing its city stores on this week in Philly history.

🍴 Eager to watch: Cherry Hill chef Nana Araba Wilmot on Top Chef.

🦐 Already tasting: The full-flavored cooking of the legendary Peter Chang, now in the Philly burbs.

🥯 Anticipating: The Philly area’s crop of new restaurants for March.

⛪ Considering: What today’s American churches can learn from Germany’s past theologians.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: 🏁 🏎️

AN ARCS

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

Cheers to Byron Peebles, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Christiana. Delaware’s only Nordstrom, in the Christiana Mall, is closing. But the luxury retailer is opening more Nordstrom Rack locations, including in Deptford, Exton, Marlton, and Media.

Photo of the day

🏛️ One last affordable thing: The Franklin Institute and five other cultural institutions will continue to offer $2 tickets for low-income patrons, thanks to $7.6 million in grants from the William Penn Foundation.

Go look at something beautiful today. See you back here tomorrow

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Morning, Philly. Expect snow and ice this morning, but it won’t be anywhere close to this winter’s previous storms. If you’re feeling nostalgic, see satellite images of the city’s big freeze and slow thaw over January and February.

Converting historic buildings into apartments might solve some of Philadelphia’s housing woes. Just ask the architects transforming a historic Greek Revival mansion into a 32-unit building.

And in efforts to disrupt U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents at work, the whistle has become an instrument of choice.

Plus, Philadelphia is on the short list to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention. Read on for these stories and more.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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How preservation can aid affordability

What role could the preservation of Philadelphia’s oldest and historically significant buildings play in the housing crisis?

🏠 Pro-development activists have long argued that there is a link between the city’s preservation laws and the scarcity of affordable housing.

🏠 Yet local architects have shown that historic buildings can be a tool to create more housing for less money, using fewer natural resources, architecture critic Inga Saffron notes.

🏠 Consider her case study of Lea and Evan Litvin’s latest project: Their Lo Design firm is converting a 19th-century complex at 15th and Waverly Streets into a 32-unit apartment building.

Read Saffron’s argument for why historic preservation isn’t the villain in the debate over housing affordability.

In related news: The Washington Square West historic district, which covers 1,441 properties in Center City, was overturned Monday by a local judge.

‘We’re interrupting them’

In Philadelphia and across the United States, the humble whistle has become a signal of resistance.

Activists have been using them to alert neighbors, especially undocumented immigrants, that ICE is on patrol nearby. Locally, they can also be heard at weekly “Noise Demo” protests outside the agency’s Center City office, where the goal is disruption.

The instrument has become so ubiquitous at anti-ICE actions, President Donald Trump has sought to ban “loud or unusual noises” at federal facilities.

Notable quote: “There’s not much more shrill or penetrating than the sound of a whistle,” a Temple University professor who studies protest and dissent told The Inquirer.

Immigration reporter Jeff Gammage explains why whistles have become popular among protesters, and why some advocates aren’t sure it’s the best approach.

What you should know today

• Trump’s communications strategy about the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran — walking the line between claiming victory and avoiding blame — veers from past presidents’ approach to discussing American military actions.
• A former Delsea Regional High School student has accused a math teacher of sexually abusing him in the 1980s and is suing the South Jersey school system for failing to protect him.
• A 76-year-old Hatboro man has been charged with soliciting sex acts with a 15-year-old girl after paying for pictures of her feet, Montgomery County officials said.
• Philadelphia’s school board just adopted the district’s first-ever comprehensive wellness policy, including guaranteed recess and bathroom and water breaks.
• Chester County CEO David Byerman left his role on Monday, officials said. The county’s deputy administrator will replace him under a new title.
• One of Philly’s most famous pizza makers, Pizzeria Beddia’s Joe Beddia, is opening a bar in London. And in Kensington, Manna Bakery will take over Essen’s former space for a bakery-cafe and restaurant.
• Longtime Fox 29 sports director Tom Sredenschek, aka “Sreder,” is calling it a career after four decades at the station.
• Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran was once a hard-throwing minor leaguer with no nickname. Then, a coach gave him one that stuck.

Plus: Philly on the DNC short list

Philadelphia is being considered to host the Democratic National Convention in August 2028.

The city has hosted eight major party conventions, during which delegates nominate a candidate for president. Most recently, the 2016 DNC was held at what’s now called the Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The event could generate millions of dollars in economic impact. Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Denver are also contenders.

City Hall reporter Anna Orso has more.

🧠 Trivia time

The city’s newest pro sports franchise is called the Philadelphia Phenoms. What sport does it represent?

A) Ultimate frisbee

B) Jai alai

C) Jujitsu

D) Overwatch

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🇺🇸 Learning: Which other National Park Service displays were flagged in response to Trump orders.

🦅 Following: Eagles free agency, and the possible changes and new faces coming on offense.

🩰 Anticipating: Philadelphia Ballet’s newly announced 2026-27 season.

🐱 Watching: Delaware native Aubrey Plaza’s latest directorial venture.

🏛️ Considering: City Council president Kenyatta Johnson’s take on the battle over the President’s House exhibit.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Delaware mall

ARACHNITIS

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

Cheers to Karen Mirabelli, who solved Monday’s anagram: Villanova. At a Saturday university event to promote his memoir, Gov. Josh Shapiro discussed his love of basketball alongside decorated coach Jay Wright.

Photo of the day

Hurry! The rest of your life begins today. Have a good one.

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It’s a new week, Philly.

A political consultant kept working as fraud claims piled up against her. One of the many people who say she owes them money is a Philadelphia congressional candidate.

And Angelo’s Pizzeria is expanding into a new South Philly location on an industrial stretch, giving the popular chain “room to grow without bothering anyone nearby.”

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Missing checks and balances

Third Congressional District candidate and State Rep. Chris Rabb made headlines last month when he said Yolanda Brown, his former campaign treasurer, made “unauthorized withdrawals” from his campaign account.

It’s not the first time the Florida-based Brown, a consultant who works primarily with Democrats and social justice groups, has faced such allegations: The financial misdeeds she’s been accused of span at least four states and total more than half a million dollars, The Inquirer found.

Yet she avoided jail time, and, using three different surnames, continued to work on political campaigns across the country. Now, the campaigns she once worked for don’t know where she is.

Her attorney says it’s all a misunderstanding.

City Hall reporter Anna Orso has the story.

Another Angelo’s

Last April, we asked: Has Angelo’s Pizzeria become too big for Bella Vista?

The answer appears to be yes — and the local chain is doing something about it by expanding into the just-closed, industrial-scale Federal Donuts & Chicken location at Wolf and Swanson Streets.

Since attracting national fame, Angelo’s takeout-only South Ninth Street shop had become a headache for neighbors fed up with the long lines and litter. That flagship location will remain, but owner Danny DiGiampietro hopes the new South Philly spot — which will also serve as a production hub and commissary — will take the pressure off of it by offering delivery, takeout, and seating.

Restaurant reporter Michael Klein has more details.

In other food news: Almost Home General’s Old City coffeehouse has closed, months after severing ties with Glu Hospitality, the now-disbanded restaurant group that operated the location.

What you should know today

• A rally at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to mark the fourth anniversary of the Russian war on Ukraine war also drew a small group of Iranian demonstrators Sunday.
• A motorcyclist from Northeast Philly died Saturday after being struck by a car that detached from a tow truck, police said.
• An employee of Radnor Middle School was arrested last week and charged with sexually assaulting a child in Texas, authorities say.
• All charges were dropped against personal injury attorney Leonard Hill in connection with the 2023 shooting of a man outside a Center City cigar bar.
• Domestic violence homicides are on the rise in Philadelphia, even as killings overall are down. A police unit is expanding to work with victims of abuse.
• More Philly-area students are majoring in neuroscience. For some, it’s about wanting to find cures for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s because of personal connections to those diseases.
• Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, half days will be eliminated from Philadelphia School District’s calendar.

Quote of the day

Overdose deaths in Philadelphia have hit the Puerto Rican community hard as the city remains divided on how to respond. Santos Jr. says the barriers his father faced in the ’90s persist today.

🧠 Trivia time

Which Philly suburb was named the first Fair Trade town in the United States 20 years ago?

A) King of Prussia

B) Media

C) West Chester

D) Doylestown

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🍨 Following: This University of Pennsylvania expert’s rules for a healthy, fulfilling life.

🏡 Ogling: Fletcher Cox’s $1.5 million Mullica Hill home, now on the market.

🥜 Trying: Pietramala chef Ian Graye’s recipe for raw asparagus salad, plus this Deptford shop’s Kelce Klusters.

🦅 Wondering: What the NFL’s new salary cap means for the Eagles.

🕊️ Considering: Pope Leo’s message to Catholics the day after the U.S. bombed Iran.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Where Jay Wright coached

OVAL ANVIL

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

Cheers to Chris Singer, who solved Sunday’s anagram: David’s Bridal. The King of Prussia-based wedding dress retailer is staging an AI-fueled, post-bankruptcy comeback. Next up: a docuseries.

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 from Inquirer health reporter Aubrey Whelan was originally published in 2024, and appears here again following last week’s news that the dreaded “courtesy tow” may see reform:

You can’t truly say you live in Philadelphia until you’ve been courtesy towed. This is something I tell myself because I have to believe that my suffering at the hands of this citywide tradition must mean something.

For those blissfully unfamiliar, the courtesy tow is that thing where the Streets Department or a construction company is performing some kind of task on your block that requires your parking spot, and they just … take your car away. Sometimes there are signs warning you of the potential of a courtesy tow; sometimes there are not. Technically, whoever tows your car has to tell the police where they put it, but frequently this does not happen, and you are left to shamble, panicked, in increasingly wide circles around your house until you come upon your car by chance.

I have been courtesy towed from my South Philly neighborhood three times, a sentence that enrages me every time I type it. [Editor’s note: And remember, this often happens even when a car is legally parked — then towed to an illegal spot.]

I wish I could say that waiting in line to get my car back at the PPA lot with dozens of other hapless souls, squinting into the setting sun of a late August evening as it sank behind the rowhouses, became some sort of bonding experience where I learned and grew and changed and ultimately understood my fellow Philadelphians better. The hottest club in Philly is the Weccacoe Avenue tow lot! But everyone was mostly just angry. I came home hungry and annoyed and $300 lighter and ready to perform a blood sacrifice for a parking spot.

Could I avoid this problem by moving to a house with a driveway? Yes. Would that also require me to probably leave South Philly? Also yes, and that’s something I hope I never do. I suppose there’s value in learning that you love your neighborhood enough to endure the unique derangement of multiple courtesy tows, an experience that would probably break brains in lesser cities. It would be nice to get my $300 back, though.

Wishing you a tow-free week. I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow.

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Welcome to March.

Sunday will be cloudy and may see a wintry mix of precipitation.

Centuries of artifacts are buried in Philadelphia soil. Who should be allowed to dig up the city’s history? It depends on whom you ask.

Further on, we’re covering the latest on the U.S.-Israel joint strikes on Iran. Check Inquirer.com for developments.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Buried treasure

Both amateur diggers and professional archaeologists say that they’re working in the public interest, but breaching the ground is a delicate practice and subject.

🚧 Not all “privy pirates” are the same. Some follow a set of rules and dig with integrity, but others trespass, shut out the professionals, and sell what they find underground.

🚧 Some archaeologists say the city has done little to protect its buried history, and warn about the risks of indiscriminate digging. “Once you dig through a site, you’ve destroyed it,” one told The Inquirer. “It’s gone.”

🚧 America’s 250th birthday is approaching, putting Philadelphia’s rich history in the national spotlight and raising questions about the access and preservation of that history.

Zoe Greenberg has the story.

In related news: Federal officials seized 36 Bronze Age-era short swords and 50 arrowheads following their arrival in Philadelphia in October.

‘Operation Epic Fury’

The U.S. and Israel launched a major joint attack on Iran early Saturday, following months of rising tensions and the movement of American warships into the region last week.

At least 201 people were killed and more than 700 were injured, according to Iranian state media. President Donald Trump said on social media that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attack.

Global leaders are holding emergency security meetings and calling for the resumption of U.S.-Iran negotiations as the attack sowed concerns of a broader conflict. Trump said his main concern is the “freedom” of the Iranian people.

Pennsylvania Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick praised the coordinated strikes, while other lawmakers in the region have criticized it and called for legislators to return to Congress immediately.

In response to the turmoil, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherill said law enforcement would increase patrols at sensitive sites like houses of worship, while Philadelphia police said it was monitoring the situation overseas.

Find updates at Inquirer.com.

What you should know today

• A newly proposed bill would permanently restore all exhibits to the President’s House Site that were removed by the Trump administration in January.
• Immigrants are the only reason Philadelphia’s population is growing, according to a new analysis. It suggests stricter federal policies could threaten the city’s economic gains.
• New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Friday that “all options are on the table” when asked by The Inquirer whether she would support adding a new tax on ICE detention centers in the state.
• One woman is dead and another woman is in custody after a Friday afternoon shooting in South Philadelphia. An investigation is underway.
• New Philadelphia-area cardiovascular surgery centers offer lower-cost outpatient procedures, pulling profitable cases from hospitals and adding financial pressure on health systems.
• The Wallingford-Swarthmore school board approved a plan last week to cut nearly 20 positions as it tries to reverse what officials have called a trend of unsustainable spending.
• Philadelphia Museum of Art is bringing back “pay-what-you-wish” admissions Friday evenings starting April 10.
• New emails show Jeffrey Epstein repeatedly claimed he funded a “quantum gravity program” at the University of Pennsylvania, but he confused the school with Penn State. Also, a Cheltenham school may switch school picture companies due to an Epstein connection.
• Almost Home General’s Old City coffeehouse closed this week, capping a complicated two-year joint venture between the chain and the troubled restaurant group Glu Hospitality.
• Johnny Gaudreau’s family traveled from the Philadelphia area to Milan to watch Team USA win Olympic gold and honor the late hockey star. Johnny’s widow, Meredith, told us how they got there.

❓Pop quiz

In a time when many kids are glued to screens, this educational magazine is still thriving and reaching the lives of millions of children after 80 years — straight from the Poconos.

A) National Geographic

B) Highlights Magazine

C) Zoobooks

D) Brainspace Magazine

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

⛰️ Planning: A scenic spring road trip for mountain luxury in Bedford Springs.

🐢 Savoring: Bourbon chicken, snapper soup, and cinnamon buns round out some of the best things we ate this week.

🏠 Learning: How Snacktime’s bassist landed this spacious rowhouse.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: King of Prussia-based wedding dress retailer

ADD RIVAL BIDS

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

Cheers to Bobbi Harris, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Cochranville. More than a decade in the making, the 300-year-old village in western Chester County is moving toward its first public water line.

In other Chesco news: Area pet sitters are watching more than dogs and cats. These days, animal care means looking after more chickens, goats, and sheep.

🌷 Photo of the day

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Philadelphia Flower Show is back, full of colors, scented exhibits, flowery crowns, and roots.

From the Shakespearean production pictured above to a city citation, Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr insists we don’t miss these exhibits at this year’s show.

And if you’re curious about what the Flower Show looked like before it opened its doors, check out these snaps by staff photographer Tom Gralish.

🎶 Today, we’re remembering Neil Sedaka by listening to this song: “They say that breaking up is hard to do / Now I know, I know that it’s true.”

One more musical thing: Mount Airy rapper KUR put us on to his special pick for a late-night fresh fruit stop, and it’s not Wawa.

👋🏽 Thanks, as always, for starting your morning with us. Have a great day.

Good morning. It’s a mostly sunny Saturday.

Philly’s surprisingly cold and snowy winter isn’t done yet. Resident weather expert Tony Wood breaks down what went wrong with the outlooks, and some big changes on the way.

Heavy snowfall in the area means snowmen, sledding, and snowball fights. But what if you’re randomly hit, unprovoked, by teenage strangers? We discuss.

Plus, there’s news about one of America’s most popular diet trends, the state of Philly’s pension fund, and our report card for this week’s news.

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree was reportedly put on leave as the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office continues investigating a clash at a student anti-ICE protest.
• The so-called Clothespin building will host a hotel and hundreds of apartments after a recent sale. It once had the most office space in the city.
• Aramark will not be the official food, beverage, and hospitality provider at the new South Philadelphia arena where the 76ers, Flyers, and the city’s new WNBA team are expected to play.
• A decade ago, Philadelphia’s $10 billion municipal pension system looked like it could sink the city. Now it’s on pace to be fully funded by 2032.
• Franklin Mall reopened Friday after being temporarily shut down since a small fire last weekend at the once-popular Northeast Philadelphia retail destination.
• Despite winning awards for improving test scores, the Philadelphia School District says not enough neighborhood children want to attend Robert Morris Middle School.
• Intermittent fasting may be no more effective than simply cutting calories for weight loss, a new review of Rutgers research shows.
• A Philly-based biotech nonprofit has landed $76 million in federal funding to advance its artificial intelligence match-making tool that identifies existing drugs to treat rare diseases.
• Breeze Airways is expanding again at the Atlantic City Airport, this time offering more southbound flights.
• Pennsylvanians react to Reese’s ingredient changes, the Phillies face a prove-it season, Team USA honors Johnny Gaudreau, and more in this week’s Philly report card.

Iced by teens

This week, we’re answering this reader question on a bit of winter warfare: Two random teenagers threw snowballs at me, a grown man. One hit me in the face and knocked off my glasses. Was I, a grown man, allowed to throw the world’s fastest revenge snowball? Or should I have just yelled a few expletives and moved on (what I actually did)?

To help, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss recruited life and culture reporters Jason Nark and Mike Newall. The group weighed the dangers of unprovoked snowballs, the value of retaliatory throws, and even brought up moving to warmer climates altogether (lol). Jason, who pointed out that our neighbors in New York City are also dealing with snowball related incidents, put it quite simply: “No one likes a snowball to the face.”

Read along for my colleagues’ full chat. And if you’re looking for advice (or just want to share your takes), we’re all ears. Send in your pressing questions here.

One viewpoint

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks the race to replace U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, a security snafu at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansion, and calls for some basic sense about security.

He also analyzes the rise of cameras around Philadelphia.

“Over the last few years, Philadelphians have increasingly come under surveillance,” Pearson writes. “This surge in surveillance has led to some residents bemoaning what they view as a cash grab.”

Read on for Pearson’s perspectives.

📍 Find the location

Where can you find this mosaic by Isaiah Zagar? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: 300-year-old village in western Chester County

CHEVRON LILAC

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

Cheers to Eileen Cleary who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Our Missing Hearts. Celeste Ng’s dystopian novel is this year’s One Book, One Philadelphia pick.

We were there

This cheerful celebration, captured by staff photographer Monica Herndon, was among our best sports photos of the week.

Edmundo Sosa and Adolis García consider themselves more like brothers than friends. After García signed a one-year deal with the Phillies this winter, they are reunited once again, with the “same goal.”

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

We all saw the viral video of Saladine Sharad riding his scooter on Lincoln Drive, but another funny scooter moment materialized from the recent winter storm, this time featuring Bad Bunny.

Speaking of the storm, this “emergency cheesesteak” is all the rage. And please… don’t be this guy.

I can’t be the only one going “awww” at these adorable baby penguins at Adventure Aquarium in Camden. 🥺

And what constitutes a “hidden gem” around here? One Philadelphian shares her hot take.

👋🏽 Thanks for stopping by. Take care, and I’ll see you tomorrow.

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It’s set to be a sunny Friday, Philly.

Drivers who illegally park in SEPTA trolley lanes and stops could soon be caught in the act by automated enforcement cameras.

And two of 20 city schools slated for closure would be spared under a revised district plan, presented during a heated school board meeting Thursday.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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The trolleys have eyes

A warning to all who insist on double parking in the path of the 34 while they make a quick stop into a shop on Baltimore Avenue: The trolley will soon be watching — and tattling.

🚎 As of Monday, artificial intelligence-powered cameras will be mounted on 30 trolleys on six lines in Philadelphia to catch drivers breaking no-parking rules. Violations will carry a $51 fine beginning April 1.

🚎 The new system is meant to benefit riders whose commutes are slowed by stagnant vehicles — trolleys run on fixed rails, so they are unable to steer around them — or who must dodge them when alighting.

🚎 The technology is already at work on 152 SEPTA buses.

Transportation reporter Tom Fitzgerald explains how it works.

In other SEPTA news: Chief executive Scott A. Sauer on Thursday was given a three-year contract with an annual salary of $395,000.

And more AI news: A Gloucester County lawmaker’s new bill aims to get ahead of AI surveillance in New Jersey schools.

Off the chopping block

Conwell Middle School in Kensington and Motivation High School in Southwest Philly, both small magnets with powerful political allies, have been cut from the Philadelphia School District’s proposed closure list.

The district’s revised $2.8 billion facilities plan was announced by Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. at a Thursday school board meeting. Eighteen schools are still slated for closure, while six would be colocated, and 159 would be upgraded.

Watlington also shared a new plan for Lankenau High: The city’s environmental science magnet is still slated to close, but is now pitched to move into Saul High instead of Roxborough High.

Next, the board is expected to vote in the coming weeks. Schools would begin closing in 2027, and building upgrades would take several years.

Education reporter Kristen A. Graham has more details.

Further reading: See more from Thursday’s lengthy meeting, where school community members shared their frustration and anguish over the district plan.

What you should know today

• New Jersey joined the growing list of states sued by the Department of Justice after refusing to share personal information of voters.
• Gov. Josh Shapiro on Thursday pledged to block the Trump administration’s plans for immigration detention centers in Berks and Schuylkill Counties.
• An affidavit about the student arrests that came after a Quakertown protest last week offers the most detailed account yet of what law enforcement officials say happened that day, but doesn’t mention what appeared to be the chokehold of a teen girl. Community members accused the Quakertown school board Thursday of failing to keep students safe. Plus: The protest has brought scrutiny to Quakertown police chief Scott McElree’s unusual dual role — he is also borough manager — and his controversial social media posts.
• A sixth person associated with the Young Bag Chasers gang was arrested Wednesday and is expected to be charged with two homicides, prosecutors said. See a timeline of the crimes authorities say led to the arrests of 19 people affiliated with several Philadelphia gangs, including YBC, who they say are responsible for shooting nearly three dozen people in two years.
• Five city police officers say in a new federal lawsuit they were skipped over for promotions because of a policy change to promote diversity in the municipal workforce.
• Should Philly politicians have to resign to campaign for new seats? After Thursday’s City Council approval, voters will get to weigh in — again.
• Walmart delivery drivers in Pennsylvania will receive about $1.4 million as part of a multi-state settlement over withheld tips and other fees.
• While Congress debates a ban on hemp-derived THC, a smaller push for regulation in Pennsylvania hopes to put THC drinks in beer stores and regulate hemp alongside medical marijuana.

Plus: What do museums do with their items that aren’t on exhibit?

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

This week, we have an explainer from reporter Michelle Myers on what happens to artworks, artifacts, and other museum ephemera when they’re not on display. Surely they’re not just stacked in a basement, collecting mothballs — right?

Indeed, oftentimes they’re on loan, used for research, or undergoing restoration. Some items are so fragile, they could even be damaged if they’re not stored away for most of their lives. 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

When Team USA beat out Canada for the men’s hockey gold medal in the 2026 Winter Olympics, how did the players honor late New Jersey native Johnny Gaudreau?

A) They wore special jersey patches with Gaudreau’s initials

B) They announced a new scholarship during a postgame speech

C) USA Hockey renamed the trophy in honor of Gaudreau for 2026

D) They carried Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey on the ice

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🐄 Remembering: When William Penn presided over Pennsylvania’s one and only witch trial.

🚗 Noting: The 250th anniversary license plate design that’s leaving some drivers with false tolls.

🏀 Cheering on: Father Judge’s 76-year-old basketball coach and school symbol.

🩰 Welcoming: Alvin Ailey’s dance company back to Philly this weekend.

🗣️ Considering: A combative political culture’s impact on American children.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This year’s One Book, One Philadelphia pick

ERASING HUMORISTS

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

Cheers to Darrell Klassen, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Germantown Mennonite Meetinghouse. The site will host Philadelphia Historic District’s latest firstival, focused on how Germantown became the building block of the abolitionist movement.

Photo of the day

Thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer. Paola has you covered with this weekend’s news. Until we meet again in your inbox, be well.

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

Hey there, Philly.

After a yearslong legal battle, the city tentatively agreed to start requiring tow truck drivers to keep track of where they leave vehicles, signaling a fix to the long-maligned “courtesy tow” problem.

And a suburban office park in Chester County is getting converted to apartments. Is it a sign of things to come?

Plus, we asked you where South and Central Jersey start. The results are in.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘A due-process violation’

Have you ever felt bewildered after your car went missing from its legal parking spot, only to be found blocks away, thanks to a towing company that never bothered to let you or police know they were moving it? Maybe you’ve even had to pay to get your vehicle back from the Parking Authority lot after it was moved to a no-parking zone and towed again?

🚙 Congratulations: You’ve been the victim of so-called courtesy towing, a very Philly problem.

🚙 After a protracted legal battle in federal court, reform of the maddening practice may be on the way: Lawyers for the city have tentatively agreed to require tow truck drivers who participate in its vehicle relocation program to keep track of where they unhook them.

🚙 The settlement agreement will also pay $750,000 to 36 courtesy-tow victims.

🚙 As of Wednesday evening, a judge still needs to approve the court settlement.

Reporter William Bender, who has been tracking the courtesy-tow saga for years, has the story — including tales from towing hell.

Suburban conversion

Several former office buildings in downtown Philadelphia are being converted for residential use as housing demand increases and workspace demand decreases. A high-profile case is the historic Wanamaker Building, where 600 loft apartments will be constructed in former office and retail areas.

But the suburbs have been lagging in replacing vacant offices with housing, due in part to architectural challenges — their developers tended to build out, not up, which means lots of dark interior space — as well as hyperlocal zoning regulations and remote locations.

One new project, a sprawling office complex in Tredyffrin Township that will become 162 apartments, indicates that could be changing. It helps that its buildings aren’t big glass boxes, leaders say.

Commercial real estate reporter Jake Blumgart has more.

What you should know today

• A former child abuse investigator was killed by Lower Merion police on Wednesday, hours after charges of child rape were filed against him, authorities said.
• Nineteen people are expected to be charged in connection with a yearslong West Philly gang war that investigators say fueled nearly two dozen shootings.
• President Donald Trump spread falsehoods and lashed out at opponents in his historically long State of the Union address Tuesday. Pennsylvania popped up throughout the evening.
• A new poll of Pennsylvania voters indicate varying support of Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. John Fetterman, and Trump ahead of the 2026 midterms.
• How did a proposed security fence around Shapiro’s Abington home land in federal court? The messy land dispute has brought accusations of a political hit job. Plus: Learn more about the dueling lawsuits between the governor and his neighbors.
• Families of people killed in Philadelphia will be eligible to receive up to $2,000 to help cover funeral costs under a city program announced Wednesday.
• Students walked out of Parkway Northwest High School on Wednesday to protest its potential closure. They say they’re concerned about a larger school’s impact on their education and safety.
• The Franklin Mall is temporarily closed after a small fire over the weekend.
• When her late husband’s gem went missing, a Kennett Square woman figured it was gone forever. Then it turned up 1,100 miles away — in a shoe.

Plus: The lines are drawn

As we noted here last month, South and Central Jersey are nebulous concepts. For one: Does Central Jersey even exist?

📍 We asked readers to draw a line where they believed each section starts. Factors that influenced their lines included highways — say, I-195 — and area codes.

📍 And on that existential question, 74% said yes, Central Jersey is real. But they strongly disagreed on where it is.

See the full map, based on thousands of reader suggestions.

In other Jersey news: Attorney General Jennifer Davenport marked her first official day in the office exchanging lawsuits with the Trump administration.

🧠 Trivia time

The latest Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominations were announced on Wednesday. Which Philly-tied musical act has never been nominated?

A) Lauryn Hill

B) Chubby Checker

C) Pink

D) The Roots

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🦪 Congratulating: Oyster House for its America’s Classics Award win from the James Beard Foundation.

🌈 Visiting: Philly’s new LGBTQ+ visitor center, one of few in the country.

🐴 Trying to adopt: One of 30 miniature horses up for sale in Gettysburg.

☕ Standing in line for: Powelton’s buzzy new Yemeni coffee shop.

📖 Considering: How Black History Month teaches us to learn from our past, flaws and all.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Historic Germantown _ Meetinghouse

NO EMINENT

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

Cheers to Keyana Kutney, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Pennsport. The development group behind a 36-story apartment tower planned for the Delaware River-adjacent neighborhood secured a $150 million construction loan and plans to break ground next year.

Photo of the day

🟫 One last wordy thing: Feeling competitive? Go inside the Delco Scrabble Club, a home for the thriving local Scrabble scene including some of the best players in the country.

Enjoy the rest of your Thursday. I’ll be back with you tomorrow morning to close out the week in news.

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. More than a foot of snow did indeed fall across the region — the most in a decade, even if it’s not yet clear if it became a blizzard.

Snowstorms in the region may not be a given, but certain Philly snowstorm habits are. Read on for an ode to the weird and wonderful wintry traditions we can rely on.

And workers have started setting up the Philadelphia Flower Show, despite the snow and years of weather curses.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Philly snowstorm traditions

Philadelphia doesn’t get snow every year. But when it does, you can count on a few constants, columnist Stephanie Farr writes. Among them:

⛄ Sledding and even snowboarding on the Art Museum steps, with seemingly no concern about the bumpiness of the ride down

⛄ Shorts shovelers, aka the guys who insist on pretending their legs don’t feel the stinging pain of frozen air

⛄ “Snowstalgia” for the Blizzard of ‘96 — though, hey, maybe kids 30 years from now will be regaled with tales from the Winter of ‘26

Farr has five more Philly snowstorm traditions to make you laugh, then (maybe) question your life choices.

More snow news:

• This storm likely won’t have the staying power of last month’s — and nature will help with the cleanup. Next up: Light snow is possible this week.
• Fourteen inches fell at Philadelphia International Airport, Langhorne got 22, and parts of the Jersey Shore were hit with a whopping two feet. Compare more snow totals in the region.
• Philly schools buildings will opt for another day of virtual learning. Other Pennsylvania and New Jersey districts will have the day off, virtual instruction, or operate on delays.
• From Haddonfield to Boathouse Row to the Main Line, see photos from a wintry Monday.

Visit Inquirer.com for the latest.

The Flower Show must go on

Want to escape the snowglobe-like conditions? Head to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where starting this weekend you’ll find mulch, flowers, and floor-to-ceiling horticultural masterpieces.

Yes, the annual Philadelphia Flower Show has returned — despite Mother Nature’s best efforts at delaying setup.

It’s far from the first time inclement weather has threatened the nearly 200-year-old show, which is typically held in late winter or early spring.

Reporter Dana Munro has more.

What you should know today

• Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity will be a guest at Tuesday night’s State of the Union address. Some Democrats are boycotting or bringing their own guests to send a message.
• Pennsylvania leaders want to avoid another lengthy state budget impasse. But a $4.3 billion budget shortfall is expected, as is disagreement over how to fix it.
• The Quakertown Community School District is planning to offer counseling and has requested a police presence this week after a student walkout Friday to protest federal immigration enforcement ended in a clash with police and multiple student arrests.
• The former Chester County detective who served as a technical adviser for the HBO crime drama Mare of Easttown is suing her past employer and supervisor over alleged sex discrimination.
• The Chinatown Stitch, which would cap the Vine Street Expressway, is in limbo after the Trump administration yanked funds. Planners are looking for ways to keep the project alive.
• Students would transition from a closing North Philadelphia elementary school in a “very high risk” neighborhood to worse-performing ones, if the district’s plan is approved.
• An Arizona State University dean will become Temple University’s next provost, the school’s number-two leader.
• The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech” wouldn’t be the same without North Philly’s Clarence B. Jones. He’s now the subject of Steph Curry’s directorial debut coming soon to Netflix.

Quote of the day

Two weeks after the last big snowstorm, Saladine Sharad’s car was towed, and SEPTA was still unreliable. But the handyman had a job to get to in Roxborough. So, he bought an electric scooter and began traveling on Google Maps’ prescribed bike route. But after hitting a closed path, he ended up on one of the city’s most dangerous roads — and soon after, on social media.

🧠 Trivia time

The former Mac’s Tavern in Old City will become a Celtic bar called the Monto in April. Two of its owners, Fergus Carey and Jim McNamara, also own which other Philly establishment?

A) Fergie’s Pub

B) Poison Heart

C) Poe’s Side Piece

D) Plough & the Stars

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🕺 Applauding: Penn State’s THON for raising a record $18.8 million.

🍣 Mapping: The best delivery sushi in and around Center City.

🏘️ Noting: That Philly is one of the most popular destinations for apartment hunters.

🏈 Keeping: The Tush Push, it seems, as supporters of a ban stay quiet.

⚽ Considering: How Philadelphia can shine on the FIFA World Cup stage.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Dunder Mifflin’s hometown

TAN CORNS

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

Cheers to Harry Escarge, who solved Monday’s anagram: Tom Shirley. The longtime Thomas Jefferson women’s basketball coach will be inducted into Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame this year.

Photo of the day

Stay cozy — or if you need to go outside, try to make some friends like the smiley guy above. I’ll be back with more news tomorrow morning.

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