Category: Inquirer Morning Newsletter

Happy Wednesday, Philly. After a run of cloudy days, we’ll be treated to sun and high temps in the low 50s today.

That’s a stark difference from 1996, when 2.5 feet of snow fell upon the region on Jan. 7 and 8. On the 30th anniversary of our biggest blizzard on record, see whether the atmosphere this year is expected to bring a good ol’ fashioned snowstorm.

But first: The results are in from the Philadelphia School District’s facilities planning survey. Read on to learn what parents and teachers said they want, including smaller classes and no school closures.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Survey says …

What do Philly parents, teachers, students, and community members want to happen to their neighborhood school buildings? For one, they want them to remain.

The city’s school district surveyed stakeholders on what they hope to see come of its slow-moving facilities master planning process, which is expected to yield big decisions this year about school closings and reconfigurations.

Some themes emerged, many of which will be tough for the cash-strapped district to balance:

✏️ No school closures, and instead, more investment in existing facilities

✏️ Smaller class sizes

✏️ More magnets to attract high-performing students

✏️ Upgraded resources, such as vocational programs, technology, and AP courses

Education reporter Kristen A. Graham has more takeaways from the survey.

Remembering the blizzard of ‘96

Thirty years ago, nearly 31 inches of snow fell on the region over two days — the largest blizzard in Philadelphia history. Millennials have never stopped romanticizing it.

Sure, in terms of record storms, we also got 29 inches in 2010, and just a decade ago, we got 22.

But more than two feet of snow to a kid? As Inquirer editorial writer Daniel Pearson noted in his ode to the Philly snow day, that’s magical.

As for this year, it’s tough to say whether we’ll get a big storm later on, but no flakes are expected in the short term. Friday may even hit 60 degrees.

Weather reporter Anthony R. Wood has more on the 2026 forecast.

Further watching: See Wood — who wrote the book on snow, literally — answer Philly’s most searched winter weather questions on the latest episode of The Inquirer’s Wooder Cooler.

What you should know today

• Five years after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Gov. Josh Shapiro and other Pennsylvania Democrats marked the Jan. 6 attack’s anniversary by sharply criticizing President Donald Trump.
• The explosion and resulting fire at a Bristol Township nursing home has resulted in a third death: a 66-year-old resident at the facility.
• A Philadelphia man is wanted in two killings since his 2015 murder conviction was overturned. His initial case was tainted by a disgraced detective.
• Police on Tuesday released the name of the officer who shot and wounded a knife-wielding man on New Year’s Eve in Strawberry Mansion.
• Long under fire for his behavior in office, Jack Tompkins has resigned as mayor of Pemberton Township in South Jersey. A new mayor will be selected Wednesday.
• The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters plans to relocate its headquarters and two training centers to the Navy Yard.
• The trolley tunnel that connects Center City and West Philadelphia is still closed as SEPTA tests repairs — but is “pretty close” to reopening, a spokesperson said Tuesday.
• More than 100 new restaurants and bars are opening in the city and suburbs this year, from a six-course tasting menu to a South Philly pretzel shop. Plus, restaurant reporter Mike Klein analyzes the trends in the 2026 dining forecast.
• Bucks County’s Trump Store is closing after six years. The shop thrived during the Biden administration, but Trump’s return to the White House has been bad for business, its owner said.

Quote of the day

El Carnaval de Puebla, one of the biggest yearly celebrations of Mexican culture in Philadelphia and on the East Coast, will not return in 2026 amid concerns over federal immigration activity.

🧠 Trivia time

Signage from which iconic shuttered Philadelphia eatery is now available for sale on Facebook Marketplace?

A) Little Pete’s

B) Melrose Diner

C) Bookbinder’s

D) Horn & Hardart

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re …

🩸 Donating: Blood as post-holiday shortages loom.

⚡ Attending: Bowieoke and other Philly Loves Bowie Week events.

⛸️ Cheering on: The South Jersey skater aiming to join the U.S. Olympic team this week.

🛍️ Curious to see: Who will buy the Shops at Liberty Place.

🖥️ Considering: The impact of Grok’s alarming deepfakes of children.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Convenience store rival

ZEST HE

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

Cheers to Colby Tecklin, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Haddon. The company that owns P.J. Whelihan’s, which is headquartered in the Camden County township, may be moving into a former Iron Hill Brewery in Bucks County.

Photo of the day

Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday, even if it feels like this post-holiday week should already be long over. See ya back here tomorrow.

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Good morning, Philly.

Vic Fangio’s journey to becoming one of football’s most revered defensive minds began as a high school coach in a small town 120 miles from Philadelphia. Ahead of the Eagles’ playoff run, get to know Dunmore’s hometown hero.

And after federal health officials on Monday announced sweeping changes to the United States’ childhood vaccine schedule, we spoke to a Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia expert about the implications.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Local legend

Those who knew Vic Fangio around the 1970s say he’s always been like this — stern, focused, and endearingly gruff.

🏈 The lifelong Philly sports fan grew up near Scranton in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He coached the football team at Dunmore High School, his alma mater, gaining a reputation among players for his love of film and attention to detail when developing plays.

🏈 Now the Eagles’ well-regarded defensive coordinator, Fangio has a Super Bowl win and citywide fame under his belt. But locals still see the same understated guy, who they say maintains firm ties to the place where it all started.

🏈 Fangio’s former players even see traces of their high school coach in Philadelphia’s defense: “When we watch the Eagles now, we’re like, ‘Hey, we recognize that,’” one told The Inquirer.

Sports reporter Alex Coffey visited Dunmore for this deep dive on the famously reserved coach.

Childhood vaccine schedule changes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its childhood vaccine schedule this week, decreasing the number of universally recommended shots for children from 17 to 11. Among those no longer recommended are immunizations for hepatitis B, the flu, RSV, and the gastrointestinal illness rotavirus.

The move was widely criticized by pediatricians and infectious disease experts, including Paul Offit, a CHOP physician and nationally renowned vaccine expert who co-invented a vaccine for rotavirus.

Notable quote: “I think the goal of [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.] is to make vaccines optional,” Offit said Monday. The health and human services secretary and longtime anti-vaccine activist, he said, “is doing everything he can to make vaccines less available, less affordable, and more feared.”

Reporter Aubrey Whelan has more on the announcement’s potential impact.

In other health news: University of Pennsylvania researchers recently won a $25 million grant to see if they can fight heart disease with a game that promotes a healthy behavior — walking.

What you should know today

• The city of Camden last year reached its lowest homicide total in four decades, police said — 12, the same number recorded in 1985.
• A man died Sunday after being placed in the back of a Philadelphia police cruiser that was parked in Mayfair, police said.
• A new lawsuit alleges that the deadly explosion at a Bristol nursing home on Dec. 23 was the result of negligence on the part of the facility’s operator and its natural gas supplier.
• Philly District Attorney Larry Krasner was sworn in to his third term Monday. In a speech, he recounted wins and took shots at President Donald Trump. City Controller Christy Brady was also sworn in, and promised to examine spending related to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s signature housing plan.
• Sen. John Fetterman praised Trump’s order to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, breaking with most Democrats’ messaging on the military operation.
• New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s digital innovation office has been made permanent in what appears to be the first move of its kind in the nation.
• A new slate of Chester County elected officials took their oaths of office over the weekend.

🧠 Trivia time

A decade after teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and being taken over by its home state, which city just signaled that it had found its financial footing by earning an investment grade rating by Moody’s Ratings?

A) Wilmington

B) Trenton

C) Atlantic City

D) Philadelphia

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🥚 Mapping: Philly’s best flaky, custardy, and barely sweet egg tarts.

🛒 Noting: Changes to how Giant handles online orders.

🐧 Picking: A name for the new baby African penguin at Camden’s Adventure Aquarium.

🍖 Learning about: The lawsuit over the ingredients in the McDonald’s McRib.

🫴 Considering: Pennsylvania’s hidden human trafficking problem.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: _ Township in Camden County

DAD HON

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

Cheers to Rosie Ladeau, who solved Monday’s anagram: West Bradford. The Chester County township is lowering property taxes this year — a rarity that other towns may not be able to copy.

P.S. Want more Chester County news? Sign up to get your free weekly guide to the news and events shaping life in your community.

Photo of the day

🎨 One last artistic thing: Media-based painter Rinal Parikh is redefining Indian folk art with contemporary themes and local imagery. “What inspires me is my surroundings, and I’m blessed with an amazing backyard,” the biochemist-turned-artist said. “That is my main inspiration.”

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

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Morning, Philly. Expect a cloudy start to the first full week of 2026.

After a boutique on South Street received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for selling breast binders for gender-affirming care, the region’s transgender community worries about the potential wider impacts.

And survivors of the explosion that rocked a Bristol nursing home last month recount a persistent gas smell and lack of concern by staff in the hours before.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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A notice over binders

A federal warning has sparked outrage within the Philly area’s transgender community.

The FDA sent a warning letter to South Street’s Passional Boutique & Sexploratorium, along with 11 other businesses, for selling breast binders for gender-affirming care. In the Dec. 16 letter, the agency said the store is violating regulations because it is not registered to sell the binders, which are classified as a medical device.

Agency Commissioner Martin Makary has said the businesses market the binders to minors, but Passional employees dispute that their company does. The warning letter came as President Donald Trump’s administration moved to cut off federal funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children.

Trans Philadelphians say it’s a clear and alarming attempt to restrict access to gender-affirming care for all, not just children and teens.

In their own words: “This is going to create a chilling effect for anyone who needs a breast binder,” one person told The Inquirer. “It’s all just to open the door to eventually say, ‘Trans people are not allowed to exist.’”

Reporter Wendy Ruderman has the story.

‘The whole hall smelled like gas’

Dec. 23 began as a typical day at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Bucks County — besides the persistent gas smell.

More details are emerging about the circumstances surrounding the explosion that killed two people and injured 20 others at the facility last month. One former resident who spoke to The Inquirer said staffers had acknowledged a gas leak earlier in the day, but said Peco had fixed it.

But investigators still face key questions as they seek to determine the cause of the explosion and assess whether Peco, the nursing home, or both may have been negligent.

Reporter Barbara Laker has more details from the day of the deadly incident.

What you should know today

• Venezuelans in Philadelphia report mixed reactions to the U.S. strike against their home country over the weekend, from elation to trepidation. Some Ukrainian Americans are feeling an uneasy sense of déjà vu, too.
• Amid conflicting recommendations, Americans are now more likely to trust the American Medical Association than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when it comes to vaccine guidance, a University of Pennsylvania study found.
• If she makes it on the ballot, Carlisle lawyer Karen Dalton will be Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry’s first primary opponent since 2012, the year he first won the seat.
• New Jersey lawmakers passed a bill to prohibit households from being denied housing because they use public assistance.
• Vandals scrawled racist and antisemitic graffiti outside Roxborough High School, prompting community members to respond Sunday by chalking positive messages onto the school sidewalk.
• Montgomery County is addressing homelessness with an unusually bipartisan effort, which will result in three new, emergency short-term shelters by the end of this year.
• Construction on the South Street Pedestrian Bridge’s footbridge expansion, planned for years alongside the capping of I-95, will begin this spring.
• “Leaving a legacy” has been a catchphrase ahead of the World Cup. What will that mean for children in Philly?

Quote of the day

GM Sauer spoke to The Inquirer about SEPTA’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year, from train fires to service cuts, as well as what commuters can expect in 2026.

🧠 Trivia time

The United States’ first balloon ride happened in 1793 in Philadelphia. The hydrogen-powered balloon took off from what was then the Walnut Street Prison workyard, and is now what?

A) Penn Museum

B) LOVE Park

C) Walnut Street Theatre

D) The Athenaeum

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

💸 Noting: The one really great thing about renting in Philly, according to a Boston transplant.

🎓 Inspired by: This 67-year-old high school dropout who just graduated from college.

🏘️ Learning: Lessons about first-time home buying in Philly and how renovations can strain a relationship.

🎨 In awe of: The massive 1932 N.C. Wyeth mural, now reborn in Wilmington.

🩺 Considering: How to support nurses amid federal attacks.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: _ _ Township in Chester County

DEBTS FORWARD

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

Cheers to Bob LaBelle, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Nicole Michalik. For the 92.5 XTU host, a perfect day in Philly starts with coffee under the covers and ends with a Sixers win.

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.

We’re in search of new “only in Philly” stories for our 2026 series, so dig into your memory bank and send ‘em over. I can’t wait to read them.

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

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Welcome to a chilly and partly sunny Sunday.

It’s the first weekend of 2026, marking the start of a busy year ahead for the city of Philadelphia. Before everything — and everyone — gets here, we asked readers to share ways they think the city could improve. After more than 600 submissions, Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr presents your wishes.

We’re also following developments, and state and local reactions, after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro early Saturday.

Read on for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Big ideas for a big year

Philly is preparing to welcome the world for the nation’s Semiquincentennial and a handful of major sports events in 2026, like the FIFA World Cup.

At the request of Stephanie Farr, readers sent in suggestions for things the city should create, destroy, or fix in advance.

Some dreams were lofty — it’s unlikely we can “turn Regional Rail into a German-style S-Bahn by next year,” as Farr noted — while others aim to turn up the fun, aesthetics, and educational entertainment.

Here’s a preview of what you came up with:

💡 On the simpler side, restaurants could offer meals for $17.76, and the William Penn statue would be illuminated atop City Hall at night;

💡 Fun activities include a tour and music festival highlighting The Sound of Philadelphia artists, or transforming Headhouse Square into a “European-style plaza”; and

💡 Off-the-wall-ideas mention an “Epcot Village” that could show off our diverse food-and-drink scene, and an official SEPTA cheesesteak joint.

See the full list compiled by Farr.

Attack on Venezuela

The United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a military operation early Saturday. They face criminal charges in connection with an indictment by the U.S. Justice Department accusing them of a narco-terrorism conspiracy.

President Donald Trump, who called the strike a success, said the U.S. would temporarily “run the country” and sell its oil abroad.

Philadelphia reacts: The Venezuelan community expressed a mix of hope and concern for the future, and a cohort of area politicians denounced Trump’s actions.

Escalating pressure: Here’s a timeline of the buildup and strikes on Venezuela leading to Maduro’s capture.

Closed airspace: The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily banned U.S. airlines from flying near Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and other parts of the Caribbean through Sunday.

Visit Inquirer.com for the latest updates.

What you should know today

• A suspect in a West Philadelphia carjacking briefly stole a Philadelphia police car in the city’s Frankford section Friday night before finally being arrested.
• Shoppers across Philadelphia are increasingly favoring secondhand and lightly used items in an effort to save money and live more sustainably.
• Bucks County agreed to pay nearly $1 million to a woman with serious mental illness who was pepper-sprayed and restrained for hours in jail.
• Police said a pit bull attacked three other dogs and two owners in Center City in three separate attacks in the week after Christmas.
• Montgomery County’s bipartisan board of commissioners is expanding homelessness services with a plan to open three short-term shelters by the end of this year.
• Steve Sweeney, who finished last in the Democratic primary for New Jersey governor in June, has landed a six-figure salary in a newly appointed role with Gloucester County.
• Over Jim Donovan’s 22-year long career at CBS Philadelphia, fans sent him thousands of socks. The former anchor set a Guinness record with his collection.

❓Pop quiz

This Philly-based restaurant chain continues to expand nationally, with 71 existing locations across the country and plans for 18 more in 2026.

A) Goldie

B) Honeygrow

C) Taco Heart

D) Federal Donuts

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Host on 92.5 XTU, Philadelphia’s country music station

AI CHECK MILLION

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

Cheers to Charlene M. Wiltshire who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Wynn Thomas. Once a theater kid from West Philly, the Hollywood production designer has won an overdue Oscar at 72.

❤️‍🩹 Photo of the day

This is Ray, a 7-year-old goat at the East Germantown nonprofit Philly Goat Project who helps bring comfort to people. After experiencing a rough 2025, Ray needs assistance moving about. Loving volunteers and a wheelchair are helping make that possible.

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “Our love is rhythm and charm, it resonates / In every space, it fills the place.” Legendary singer Jill Scott (aka “Jilly from Philly”) is out with a new single as an offering from her first new album in more than a decade.

👋🏽 That’s all for now. Take care, and have a great day.

Good morning. It’s set to be a mostly cloudy Saturday with a high near 33.

Today, we’re talking about the pure love that poured out from the Mummers Parade.

But first, we have updates on disruptions coming to SEPTA’S Fox Chase Line, another Philadelphia bar that has gone to the dogs, and the Philly area’s first babies of 2026.

Let’s get into it.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• Expect service disruptions starting Monday on SEPTA Regional Rail’s Fox Chase Line as crews install new tracks. Shuttle buses will replace midday trains for several weeks.
• The Boozy Mutt, Fairmount’s pup-friendly pub, is closing its doors Saturday after just over two years in business. Its owners cited rising costs as a factor.
• Philadelphia recorded 222 homicides in 2025, which is the fewest in more than half a century. Officials caution that the improvements are fragile.
• Police have arrested a California man in connection with the hit-and-run death of a man who was riding an e-bike in South Jersey this week.
• Suraya, the Michelin-recognized Lebanese restaurant in Fishtown, closed temporarily after a nearby rooftop fire left the restaurant without gas.
• Henry Schamp was the Philadelphia area’s first baby of 2026, born at the stroke of midnight. Meet Henry and several others who were welcomed into the world with sparkling fireworks outside their window.
• Former Phillies star Lenny Dykstra was arrested for drug possession during a traffic stop just after midnight on New Year’s Day in Northeastern Pennsylvania, state police said.
• A lawsuit by a violinist accuses actor and musician Will Smith of sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation over the course of a 2024 tour.
• A shopping center near downtown Phoenixville recently sold for nearly $7.4 million. The fully occupied property is less than a mile from the borough’s bustling downtown.
• How much caring is too much caring? A reader asked The Inquirer for advice on keeping their New Year’s resolution to not let Philly team losses ruin their day. Here’s what we recommend.

A romantic Mummers

When considering the good, bad, and weird in the region’s latest happenings, editor Sam Ruland looked to two special stories out of the Mummers Parade that captured hearts across the city of Philadelphia.

The nation’s oldest folk parade drew thousands who braved the bitter cold and high winds to participate in the annual tradition. Unfortunately, those winds prevented the string bands from competing, marking the first time in Mummers history that was suspended.

But because this is Philadelphia, the show still went on, and we got to see uplifting things happen amid the dancing, sequins, and feathers: There was a couple who got married in the middle of the parade, and an adorable Mummers-obsessed 93-year-old Welsh grandma who flew here to finally see them in person. A uniquely Philly love was palpable at the event, now in its 125th anniversary.

“This New Year’s Day delivered a reminder of what this thing actually is: unshakable, irrational, deeply sincere devotion,” Ruland writes. Both stories earned an A+.

Catch up on these stories and more from this week in Philly news.

One viewpoint

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson proposes some New Year’s resolutions for key players in City Hall, Harrisburg, and everywhere in between.

For instance, Pearson argued City Council should work toward eliminating micromanagement, and called on SEPTA “to stand and deliver.” Read his suggestions to state and local leaders, including a bonus resolution for everyday Philadelphians.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this was taken? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly locations to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Hollywood production designer from West Philly

MONTHS YAWN

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

Cheers to Melissa Pergine, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: Manayunk. Acclaimed gluten-free bakery Flakely will move from an industrial kitchen in the Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood to a bigger storefront in Bryn Mawr by February 2026.

🎤 We were there

The free New Year’s Eve concert in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum was a frigid, fireworks-filled affair, kicking off the city’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday.

LL Cool J and DJ Jazzy Jeff headlined the show, with Philadelphia-based rapper Freeway making a surprise appearance just before midnight.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

Why is Wawa called Wawa? There are degrees of knowledge to unpack here, so WHYY’s Avi Wofman-Arent walked us through the lore (with some Sheetz shade to boot).

Streets Dept posted a crabby art installation at Washington and Passyunk Avenues. The video title is timeless: “Philly is not a real place.”

Meanwhile, Philadelphians on Reddit are talking about Stranger Things apparently confirming “Philly is the center of the universe.” Spoilers ahead: This is why fans are buzzing about the finale.

One more thing: Before I let you go, allow me to congratulate my colleague Diane Mastrull on her retirement. She is a longtime editor of this newsletter and a titan of journalism and public service. This edition is the last to be expertly edited by her eagle eye. Thank you, Diane.

👋🏽 Thanks for stopping. See you again tomorrow morning.

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Morning, Philly. Hold on to your hat when you step outside on what’s expected to be a blustery Tuesday.

Pennsylvania was known for an arduous permitting process. New policies aim to accelerate building projects and drive investment in the commonwealth.

And a Philadelphia lawyer who became one of the most influential voices in the U.S. juvenile justice system is taking a step back after 50 years as a “superhero.”

Plus, look back on The Inquirer’s best interactives and visual stories of 2025.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Reforms for quicker development

Pennsylvania has long been known as a state where development projects get caught in the slog of bureaucracy. That reputation has cost it business, stakeholders say, as in the case of a U.S. Steel mill that went to Arkansas instead of Allegheny County.

🏗️ State leaders hope that will change with a new process approved as part of the state’s $50.1 billion budget, signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro last month.

🏗️ Certain building permits must now be approved in as few as 30 days, among other updates, per the legislation.

🏗️ The goal is that when businesses consider projects in the state, “they won’t wince at the fact that this is going to take forever,” a Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry exec told The Inquirer.

Politics reporters Katie Bernard and Gillian McGoldrick have more.

In other state government news: The attorneys general of New Jersey and Pennsylvania — an anti-Trump crusader and a self-described “boring” Republican prosecutor, respectively — have forged an unlikely partnership. They say they will maintain their bipartisan friendship when one leaves office next month.

‘50 years later, you’re pushing the rock back up the hill’

Marsha Levick’s career has ranged from representing individual teenagers to steering landmark litigation that forced states to overhaul abusive practices.

Levick will step down Wednesday from her position as chief legal officer of the Juvenile Law Center, the Center City-based organization she helped build from a walk-in legal clinic into a national leader in children’s rights.

Her departure coincides with the center’s 50th anniversary, a time of celebration — as well as what she calls a “dark moment” for civil liberties in America.

Reporter Jillian Kramer has the story on Levick’s legacy.

What you should know today

• Philadelphia is on track to record the lowest number of fatal overdoses in nearly a decade in 2025, according to preliminary state data.
• A second South Jersey pilot died after helicopters leaving an Atlantic County airport crashed Sunday. The friends were known figures in the area.
• In a new lawsuit, a Lehigh Valley dealership owner says her business was ruined because of M&T Bank’s “racist and overzealous” fraud investigator.
• An Arizona couple told patients they’d created a breakthrough medical device. In a Philly courtroom, they admitted it was all a lie, pleading guilty to healthcare fraud.
• A Collingswood commissioner has sued the borough, asking a judge to nullify a contract with Virtua Health because the mayor’s husband works for the health system.
• A former NFL player battling Parkinson’s disease had been denied payment from the league’s concussion settlement program four times. His decade-long quest has finally ended in a million-dollar award.
• Honeygrow, the fast-casual chain based in Center City, plans to open up to 18 new locations next year.

Plus: The Inquirer’s best interactives and visual stories of 2025

The Inquirer’s interactives team spends their time designing fun, informative stories that invite you to play along.

This year’s slate ranged from a game that teaches you Gillie Da King’s viral two-step to a tour of the Southeast Asian Market to an explainer on how a plane crash changed five Northeast neighbors’ lives.

Want to finally understand how to navigate the green card maze, or see which route out of the Linc after an Eagles game is most efficient? We have interactives for those, too.

Check out the team’s favorite visual stories from the past 12 months.

🧠 Trivia time

Which of these was among the top searches by Zillow home shoppers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 2025?

A) “Luxury”

B) “Historic”

C) “Fixer upper”

D) “Tiny”

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🔔 Greeting: The “sibling” Liberty Bell to be featured in Cherry Street Pier’s New Year’s Eve celebration.

🍕 Trying: The best new slices and pies in the Philly area.

🎤 Remembering: The best Philly concerts of 2025, according to pop music critic Dan DeLuca.

🔥 Cozying up at: These 40+ area spots with heated outdoor dining areas.

🍲 Eating: A cozy bowl of pozole, at food writer Kiki Aranita’s urging.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Wilmington children’s hospital

RUM EONS

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

Cheers to Marvin Adams, who solved Monday’s anagram: Ephrata. A former Mennonite left the dating parlors and courting buggies of Lancaster County behind. Now she’s learning to date from scratch.

Photo of the day

🐌 One last mouthwatering thing: Remember the best meals you ate in 2025? Inquirer critic Craig LaBan recalls his. Look back on his list of Philly’s best restaurants of the year, in photos. Then reminisce on the top five local restaurant trends of 2025 (hi, Michelin) and say a last farewell to the Philly-area eateries that shut down (RIP, McGlinchey’s).

I’ll be back with you tomorrow to close out the year of news. See you then.

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Welcome to the last week of the year, Philly.

Philadelphia museums’ dynamic programming for the United States’ 250th birthday kicks off on Jan. 1. We have the rundown on the arts events to add to your 2026 calendar.

And at a South Jersey high school, students are harvesting 1,000 pounds of mushrooms annually while getting a civics lesson. Read on for these stories and more of the day’s news.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Artsy parties for the 250th

When you offer to host the entire country’s birthday party, you’d better plan a good one.

Ahead of the country’s Semiquincentennial, Philly cultural institutions are doing their part with a slew of programs to reflect on U.S. history. Among the big arts initiatives coming to the city in 2026:

🎨 The Philadelphia Art Museum and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts will aim to tell the story of American creativity in an exhibit featuring works from Phillies owner John Middleton’s collection.

🎨 The African American Museum in Philadelphia — itself born out of the 1976 Bicentennial — will premiere the extension of its “Audacious Freedom” exhibit, a study of Black Philadelphians from 1776 to 1876.

🎨 Mural Arts is working on several public projects, including a tribute to Questlove and a refurbished mural in honor of the late Gloria Casarez.

Columnist Elizabeth Wellington has the full slate.

In other 250th news: The Schuylkill River Trail and the city’s transit shelters are slated for upgrades thanks to state grants, including some earmarked for Philadelphia’s Semiquincentennial preparation.

(And on the subject of the trail: A segment that had been closed since October because of a sinkhole was repaired and reopened just in time for Christmas Eve.)

Mycology lessons

Students at Rancocas Valley Regional High School are learning how to cultivate mushrooms alongside the business of supply and demand.

Now in its third year, the classroom project produces more than 1,000 pounds of mushroom varieties annually. Most of the fungi are sold to South Jersey restaurants, and the profits are reinvested into the Mount Holly school’s environmental science and biology programs.

It’s real science, teacher Michael Green says. But the hands-on education is fun for students, too. It also provides a service to their community, with some of the harvest donated to a free lunch program.

Notable quote: “My goal is just to get the mushrooms out,” Green told The Inquirer. “The goal is to get mushrooms into people’s hands.”

Education reporter Melanie Burney has the story.

What you should know today

• While the city is on pace to record its fewest killings in 60 years, hundreds in recent years still remain unresolved. The 2024 murder of a young woman in Frankford offers a window into how a case can stall even when a detective puts dozens of hours into an investigation.
• Family members of the victims of Philadelphia’s largest mass murder met on the 25th anniversary to commemorate their loved ones.
• One person died after two helicopters collided and crashed Sunday in Atlantic County, according to authorities.
• Atlantic City community members and leaders gathered last week to condemn recent “aggressive” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the resort town.
• Some Delaware County residents could be given bottled water after a “significant” amount of gasoline leaked at a petroleum tank farm.
• A Montgomery County school board moved last week to fire an elementary school principal who was recorded making antisemitic remarks.
• City residents were unable to request street plowing online this weekend when Philly 311’s portal was down.
• A new building will bring 46 apartments to Germantown Avenue, along with density and commercial space.
• As a Philadelphia teen, her school’s leaders lifted her up. Now, Dr. Sonia Lewis is giving back to Bodine High School in a major way.

Quote of the day

Urban designer Daniel Rodriguez is what’s known as a super commuter — he travels by plane, train, and bus to make his commute to and from Philadelphia and Atlanta, several times per month. He plans to become a content creator full time to encourage viewers to travel without owning a vehicle.

🧠 Trivia time

Philadelphia’s homeownership rate fell during the pandemic as rates grew nationally and in other big cities. About what percentage of city residents own their own home?

A) 52%

B) 64%

C) 75%

D) 88%

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🎆 Noting: Where to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks along the Delaware River, and what’s open and closed on New Year’s Day.

🎭 Remembering: Seven shows we loved on Philly stages in 2025.

🏘️ Comparing: Homes for sale for $390,000 in Lower Merion, Northeast Philly, and Camden County.

🛍️ Remembering: The local businesses that didn’t survive 2025.

🏛️ Considering: The Inquirer editorial board’s review of President Donald Trump’s first year back in the White House.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Borough in Lancaster County

HEAT RAP

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

Cheers to Marilyn Wimp Paolino, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Martin Guitars. The world-renowned company first moved to Nazareth in 1839 and has crafted 2.5 million guitars.

Photo of the day

About two dozen people gathered in Germantown this weekend to celebrate Kwanzaa by lighting candles and tending the flame of unity.

📬 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 Deb Olsen, who describes a memorable New Year’s Eve:

My friends and I loved going down to Old City to have dinner on New Year’s Eve and then to Penn’s Landing to watch the fireworks every year in the ’80s.

One year we were a little late getting to Penn’s Landing and the crowds were thick — and drunk. There were so many people, we were stuck on the upper parapet and couldn’t get down to the water, which was the prime viewing spot. The crush was so heavy we were forced up against the wall of the Seaport Museum. It felt like a Who concert scenario.

I noticed an elevator door and wondered if it was working. I pushed the button and it opened. It was empty. We all looked at each other and piled in. Down we went, hoping we would be able to get out once we got to the lower level. When the doors opened, we were down at the river level where the crowds were not as dense. With a sigh of relief, we made our way to the water’s edge just in time for the countdown.

The fireworks were amazing; the Ben Franklin Bridge was lit up with a sparkling waterfall display. Colorful boats motored up and down the Delaware. Music was coordinated with the fireworks, and everybody sang along. It was a delight and a night to remember. Philly is the place to be at the New Year.

Thanks for starting your week with The Inquirer. I’ll be back to bring you more news 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.

Good morning.

A wintry mix of snow and sand-like sleet was forecast for the region through Saturday morning. Check Inquirer.com for updates.

Should you stash or trash a present that missed the mark? We helped a reader navigate what to do with a very Philly gift they did not like.

But first, let’s cover why some residents say they are dissatisfied with living in Philadelphia, what we know about the first tenant coming to the Bellwether District, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• Philadelphia nearly ranked last in a recent survey that asked residents of 65 large cities how satisfied they were with where they lived. Some neighborhood leaders shared what they believe it would take to change that.
• The 10-year-old boy who was severely burned when a jet crashed in Northeast Philly reunited with the bystander who saved him. They hadn’t seen each other since that night in January.
• Two brothers and their nephew nearly died in the fatal explosion that rocked a Lower Bucks County nursing home facility on Tuesday. From the hospital on Christmas, they shared how they survived.
• The story behind New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill’s landslide victory last month can be understood by looking at her strong performance in the city of Camden. Dive into an Inquirer analysis of municipal-level data.
• Big Charlie’s Saloon, a haven for Kansas City Chiefs fans in South Philly, has permanently closed after the recent death of owner Paul Staico.
• The site of the shuttered Iron Hill Brewery in West Chester is officially seeking a new tenant. The building owner said the goal is to “find something similar,” though not necessarily a brewery.
• A Powerball ticket purchased in Northeast Pennsylvania netted a $1 million prize in the lottery’s Christmas Eve drawing.
• A California-based canned beverage company is expanding operations to the East Coast. Here’s why it picked Philadelphia for its new factory.
• From Primo Hoagies covering big-dog adoption fees to Philly’s ever-lengthening commute, catch up on the good, bad, and weird in the region’s latest stories.

Go Birds … but not on my table

What’s the polite thing to do after receiving a gift you didn’t want? Things can get dicey when you add in-laws into the mix.

Someone asked The Inquirer: My mother-in-law gifted me an ugly Eagles table runner. Do I have to keep it? My first thought was that any superstitious fan may feel it’s bad luck to hide or get rid of it. But let’s be real: Other Philly teams could use a miracle right now.

To help this reader out, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss recruited life and culture reporter Zoe Greenberg and senior video editor and producer Astrid Rodrigues. They debated whether it’s worth putting it out just once or even holding onto it at all. You just might need it for an Eagles-themed party.

I’m partial to Rodrigues’ take: give a polite “thank you,” then do as you wish with it. If it wasn’t my style, I’d try to regift it to someone I know would love it. Greenberg made this timeless point of one man’s trash being another’s treasure: “Someone might love to find an ugly Eagles table runner on the street, so it’s like a beautiful gift you’re passing along.”

But what if the mother-in-law comes over one Sunday and asks about the gift? Read on for my colleagues’ full conversation. And if you have a pressing Philly issue you need advice on, we’re happy to help. Send in your questions here.

One viewpoint

Despite growing anti-consumerist sentiment toward the holidays, the National Retail Federation expected a record-setting $1 trillion to be spent nationwide on consumer goods this season.

In a column for The Inquirer, B.G. White argues in favor of holiday shopping as an extension of the spirit of giving, even though critics say it can conflict with some religious values.

“Rather than dismissing holiday shopping as a symbol of materialism and excess, I have come to view it as an expression of generosity that captures the purpose of the season,” White writes.

Read on for his perspective on liking the commercialization of Christmas.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this photo was taken? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly locations to the test. Try your best guess here.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This holiday song was composed in a Philadelphia church for the Christmas season in 1868

BOLT HOLE ONE TIME TWELFTH

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

Cheers to Michaelene Fanelli, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: The End of an Era. We tracked all the Philly connections in Berks County native Taylor Swift’s new docuseries.

We were there

Thousands crowded into the Grand Court of the Wanamaker Building on Christmas Eve for what could be the last chance to behold the light show. Mike Newall and Tyger Williams captured the beloved holiday tradition in this story.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

Local hiker Walter Zolna shared some incredible sights of Wissahickon Valley Park blanketed in snow last Sunday, paired with the sound of “nature’s perfect silence.”

No Shorts and ChaseU came together to bring us “A Very Philly Christmas Song.”

And the Phillies’ holiday offering adds a Great Christmas Tree Adventure to the Phanatic’s lore.

👋🏽 Thanks for stopping by. Stay warm, and I’ll catch you here again tomorrow.

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

Good morning, Philly. Flying during this holiday week? Be sure to check our travel tracker for delays.

Harry Kalas’ rendition of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas still resonates. Below, learn how the annual CBS3 tradition came to be.

And we go inside the haphazard crackdown on Pennsylvania’s smoke shops, from undercover stings to a marijuana museum.

Plus, an explosion rocked a nursing home in Bucks County on Tuesday killing at least two people. Read on for the latest.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. This newsletter is taking some time off for the holiday. Look for its return to your inbox on Saturday.

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

Tradition on the airwaves

Phillies announcer Harry Kalas died in 2009, but his iconic voice lives on at Citizens Bank Park, where his cover of “High Hopes” plays after each home game win.

🎁 Kalas’ voice echoes at Christmastime, too: Philadelphia’s CBS3 has been airing his reading of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas almost every Dec. 24 since 2005. Viewers can expect to see it again tonight.

🎁 To the producer who first put him on the air, the tradition still makes sense, 20 years on.

🎁 “Obviously, people love Christmas and people love Harry Kalas,” Andy Wheeler told The Inquirer. “And having him read that story, with his voice that everybody is so used to … it’s almost like watching a home movie of Christmases past.”

Sports reporter Alex Coffey has the story on the origins of this decades-old tradition.

In other sporty news: Bryce Harper plans to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic this March. The Phillies first baseman also hopes to play for the United States in the 2028 Olympics.

Smoke shops under fire

Confusion over federal hemp law coupled with Harrisburg lawmakers’ inability to pass regulations has led to a smoke shop frenzy in Pennsylvania. But the emerging effort to police these shops has so far been inconsistent and haphazard, an Inquirer investigation found.

Philadelphia is making an effort to crack down on scofflaw operators with new legislation, and investigators have doubled violations for improper licensing over the last two years.

Yet many smoke shops remain open and continue to operate with relative impunity — sometimes within view of a similar shop that authorities have closed down.

Reporters Max Marin and Ryan W. Briggs explain ahead of a possible THC hemp ban.

What you should know today

• Two people were reported killed and several others injured or missing in an explosion that rocked the Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Bristol Township Tuesday afternoon.
• A Delaware State Police trooper was shot and killed while responding to a report of an active shooter on Tuesday in Wilmington.
• June Rodriguez, 54, was killed in a hit-and-run early Saturday while riding his bike home after a shift at Bob & Barbara’s Lounge. The DJ is remembered for creating “a sanctuary on the dance floor.”
• President Donald Trump’s administration said on Tuesday that it will begin garnishing the wages of student loan borrowers who are in default early next year.
• Officials in Bucks and Montgomery Counties say millions of dollars for homeless services are at risk under a Trump administration plan.
• Philadelphia is suing a host of drug manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers over high insulin costs.
• The founder of a now-defunct South Philly Bitcoin mining company is accused of misappropriating more than $48 million of investor funds.
• Lower Merion residents will see an 8% increase on their property tax bill in 2026, as commissioners cite a “looming cliff” after 13 years of no increase.
• Some of Amtrak’s fleet of next-generation Acela and Airo trains will likely sit idle in 2026 as the national railroad company faces delays in upgrading maintenance facilities.

Quote of the day

Nashville band Old Crow Medicine Show’s OCMS XMAS album features a song that imagines a “little baby born in the Keystone State” in Lehigh County and references the Phillies. Check out pop critic Dan DeLuca’s 2025 holiday music playlist to hear more new originals, reimagined seasonal classics, and more holiday songs with local ties.

🧠 Trivia time

Ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, the Wall Street Journal has named Philadelphia the world’s what?

A) Best destination for cheese lovers

B) Cutest sports fan base

C) Top place to visit in 2026

D) Smelliest city

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🐧 Welcoming: Baby penguins Duffy and Oscar to Camden’s Adventure Aquarium.

🚣 Voting for: The lower Schuylkill, up for Pennsylvania’s River of the Year.

🎉 Ringing in: The new year with these events in and around Media, Cherry Hill, Lower Merion, and Chester County.

🍝 Visiting: Red Gravy Goods, East Passyunk Avenue’s new food and Philly-centric gift shop.

🥟 Appreciating: How Philly’s Polish community keeps a Christmas Eve tradition alive.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A Berks County native’s new docuseries (five words)

FEATHERED NONA

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

Cheers to Christopher Jungers, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Parkway Central Library. The Philly branch is one of the stops on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026 book tour, which kicks off Jan. 24.

Photo of the day

Wishing you a cozy few days. Paola will be bringing you the holiday weekend news on Saturday. ’Til we meet again in your inbox, be well.

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