Category: Inquirer Morning Newsletter

Hi, Philly. The city is finally warming up after that historic cold snap. Some people are already wearing short sleeves and planning vacations.

A South Jersey man died after Penn Medicine doctors failed to diagnose him in time. A simple blood test could have saved his life.

And Philadelphia’s recycling rules have changed. Test how well you know them with our quiz.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Missed medical clues

The doctors couldn’t explain Louis-Hunter Kean’s symptoms: high fevers, a swollen liver and spleen, low blood cell counts.

Over six months, more than 30 doctors tried to figure out what was causing a previously healthy young man to become so sick. Kean was admitted five times to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His electronic medical chart grew to thousands of pages. Along the way, doctors missed critical clues.

When they finally found the cause, the diagnosis came too late to save the Haddonfield native’s life. Kean died less than two weeks later at age 34.

A key test that might have led to a much-earlier diagnosis and thus could have saved him was never conducted. Kean’s family is now suing Penn’s health system for medical malpractice.

“It was horrible when we lost him, but now it’s horrible finding out that we didn’t have to lose him,” his father told The Inquirer.

Health reporter Wendy Ruderman investigates what went wrong.

Further reading: The infection that killed Kean is treatable when caught early but often fatal if not. Here’s what to know about the parasite that causes it, which is active in Southern Europe.

Where to toss it

You probably know the general rules of recycling — paper, glass, and some kinds of plastic are OK, while everything else gets trashed. Right?

♻️ Within those parameters is plenty of nuance. And in Philadelphia, the rules of the city’s curbside collection program changed in January.

♻️ Think you know what to do with rinsed shampoo bottles? Greasy pizza boxes? Packing peanuts? Batteries?

What goes in the blue recycling bins? Let us help with this guide.

More on city services: Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Wednesday unveiled PHL PRIME, a program to help businesses navigate Philly’s red tape.

What you should know today

• A grand jury declined to indict six Democratic lawmakers, including U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, over their video urging service members to “refuse unlawful orders.”
• Two Philly men on Tuesday were convicted of first-degree murder for gang-related shootings that left three dead and five others wounded.
• A former criminal defense attorney was sentenced to probation for smuggling contraband — including Suboxone and a cell phone — into Philadelphia’s Federal Detention Center.
• Shareholders of Camden’s American Water Works and Bryn Mawr’s Essential Utilities voted to create a combined company serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
• Chester County is confronting the fallout from another mistake by its voter services department, soon after residents said their faith in voting security is shaken.
• Cameras will soon enforce speed limits in five Philly school zones, complete with $100 fines.
• The Philadelphia Stars Negro Leagues mural in West Parkside was taken down — but a new one is set to be re-created just across the street.
• At 91, Joe Pagliei is believed to be the oldest living ex-Eagle. It’s a title that has made him popular at his New Jersey nursing home.

Quote of the day

The Art Commission voted Wednesday to move the Frazier statue from the South Philly sports complex to the base of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s steps, where the original Rocky statue currently stands.

The Rocky statue will be installed at the top of the museum’s steps. Columnist Stephanie Farr echoes the concerns noted by some of Frazier’s family members: Shouldn’t the statue of the real legendary Black boxer be placed above that of a fictional character?

🧠 Trivia time

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner on Wednesday denied rumors that he may challenge which elected official when they are up for reelection?

A) Mayor Cherelle L. Parker

B) Gov. Josh Shapiro

C) City Council President Kenyatta Johnson

D) Sen. John Fetterman

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🥌 Trying: Curling, because how hard can it be?

🦅 Watching: Two bald eagle eggs hatch in Lancaster County via livestream.

🍟 Visiting: The Center City steakhouse home to a viral “girl dinner” offering.

♨️ Eager to try: The Nordic-style sauna and cold plunge at the Schuylkill Center.

📜 Learning: The history of the Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society, which turns 251 this year.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Regional restaurant chain

WHIPLASH JEN

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

Cheers to Phil Fantozzi, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Di Bruno Bros. The last of the brand’s three stores set to close permanently did so this week. The former Di Bruno’s space in Ardmore will be redeveloped.

Photo of the day

🍴 One last miniature thing: A Rittenhouse Square restaurant regular’s devotion inspired his son to build a $1,500 Lego replica. See the tiny Friday Saturday Sunday complete with action figures of co-owners Chad and Hanna Williams.

Enjoy your Thursday. Back at it 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. Sun and high temps near 40? What is this, summer?

The city spent millions to expand a single anti-violence nonprofit. Instead, it nearly imploded — facing evictions and a federal tax lien. Our investigation examines why the NOMO Foundation shut down its affordable housing program only a few years after launching it.

And Tyrese Maxey has leveled up to become a starter in this weekend’s NBA All-Star Game. Step into his New Balances and see if you can read the game like the star 76ers guard.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Politically connected, financially unstable

In 2021, the NOMO Foundation won a $1 million grant from the city to provide after-school programming for young people affected by violence.

With that backing, the nonprofit — formally known as New Options, More Opportunities — expanded quickly, launching a low-income housing initiative and opening youth centers across the city.

NOMO ultimately received more than $6 million in public funding. Yet in 2025, less than three years after the housing program began, it was forced to end the effort while facing evictions, an IRS lien, and lawsuits alleging hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid rent.

Why did the nonprofit receive so much public funding despite repeated warnings from city grant managers about improper spending and mismanagement?

Reporters Ryan W. Briggs and Samantha Melamed investigate.

What you should know today

• An off-duty sheriff’s officer on Tuesday shot a 17-year-old who was allegedly breaking into his car in Southwest Philadelphia.
• A Norristown police sergeant who struck a naked, unarmed man with his patrol SUV last week has been charged with assault and other crimes, prosecutors said Tuesday.
• Hundreds rallied at the President’s House Site on Tuesday afternoon to demand the restoration of its slavery memorial after the National Park Service removed the exhibit.
• Federal immigration agents broke down a family’s door in Montgomery County on Monday to arrest a man. Officials are condemning what they call needless cruelty.
• A lawsuit against the city included accusations of sexual harassment against Sharif Street Jr., who was an aide in Councilmember Jim Harrity’s office.
• Analilia Mejia appeared to cement victory in the 13-member Democratic primary to replace New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill in Congress after her top opponent conceded Tuesday.
• Some Philly libraries acted as warming centers during the extended deep freeze, straining workers and leaving people without help for complex issues, staff say.
• Russell H. Conwell Middle School in Kensington just celebrated its 100th year. Now, community members and local officials are fighting its proposed closure. Plus, Esperanza Academy Charter High School teachers and staff have unionized.
• A burst pipe at the Tasker-Morris SEPTA station left a geyser of ice hanging from the ceiling early this week.

Pull up, drive, or wait?

Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey will have a big presence at the NBA All-Star Weekend: He’s both a starter in Sunday’s All-Star Game and a competitor in Saturday’s three-point contest.

🏀 Maxey joined Philly’s team as a rookie in 2020 and is now in the midst of a breakout season as the Sixers’ top scorer, averaging 29.2 points per game and making 38.2% of his shots from deep.

🏀 As he steps into this leadership role — especially as other top players sit out — every decision Maxey makes on the court dictates the Sixers’ chances of contention. So far, plenty of those decisions have led the team to victory.

🏀 Can you make the right reads that he has all year? When he’s mismatched against Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis, for instance, how should he make use of his quickness advantage? When coming down the court in early offense, should he pull up, drive, or wait?

Play along to predict what the Sixers guard does next in this lo-fi game.

More on the Sixers:

• “Everybody is getting on the plane and I’m just crying“: Ex-teammate Jared McCain shared his emotional reaction to being traded to the Oklahoma Thunder.
• Former Sixers first-round pick Ben Simmons starred in a Super Bowl commercial about helping people get over their celebrity exes. Also featured: Travis Kelce’s ex.

Quote of the day

The Council president has largely taken a measured approach on national politics, opting to address President Donald Trump’s actions by convening task forces and holding public hearings. After watching federal agents’ deadly campaign in Minneapolis, Johnson now says he’s leading an “activist body” to push back on the administration.

🧠 Trivia time

The historic former visitor center in LOVE Park could soon get a revival, as the city seeks project ideas. What is the building shaped like?

A) An octopus

B) A flying saucer

C) A kite and key

D) The Liberty Bell

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🐎 Celebrating: Chinese New Year with these chef collaboration dinners and special menus.

🥊 Recounting: The history of Philly’s Joe Frazier statue, from inception to a potential Art Museum move.

🎥 Anticipating: This Old City studio’s doc about Mount Airy-born comedian Bob Saget.

⚾ Asking: Nine questions about the Phillies as spring training opens.

🍼 Considering: The impact of the Bryn Mawr birth center’s closure.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: High-end grocery brand

INDOOR BURBS

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

Cheers to new reader Mattingly Cohen, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Vanguard. Hundreds of Infosys workers are returning to the Malvern-based investment group, which sent them to the contractor in 2020.

Photo of the day

🔨 One last rebuilt thing: With federal money targeted for boardwalks, Ventnor is one of several Jersey Shore towns replacing their signature walkways. Take a look at how they’re doing it.

Be sure to catch the sun before more clouds are expected tomorrow. ’Til then, have a good one.

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

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

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

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

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Love in this pub

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) Ending its focus on visual arts

B) Moving to the suburbs

C) Opening undergraduate programs to men

D) Doubling in size

Think you know? Check your answer.

What and whom we’re …

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

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

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

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

🇺🇸 Considering: What American citizenship means now.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Malvern-based investment company

VANDA RUG

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

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

Photo of the day

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

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

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

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

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

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

The other football

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘It’s like the Wild West out here’

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

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

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

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

Reporter Abigail Covington has frustrated Philadelphians’ wildest savesies stories.

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) City Hall

B) Elfreth’s Alley

C) Philadelphia Museum of Art

D) Independence Hall

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

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

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

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

💤 Learning: How pink noise could disrupt sleep quality.

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Township in Chester County

TIN WILLOWS

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

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

Photo of the day

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

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

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

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

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

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

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

A new era

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

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

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

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

Dive in with Dan DeLuca.

🎡 Eclipsing Wonderland

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

❓Pop quiz

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

A) opera singer

B) flight attendant

C) bookkeeper

D) train conductor

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Nonprofit system (two words) 🏥

FEATHER JOH SHELF

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

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

🪗 Photo of the day

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Snow-going recovery

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

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

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

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

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

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

Return of the PMA

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

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) His sock collection

B) His social media flair

C) His music side project

D) His celebrity friends

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re …

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

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

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Delaware County borough

AIMED

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

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

Photo of the day

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

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

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

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

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

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

A plan to curb energy costs

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

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

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

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

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

Further reading:

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

Feeling romantic

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) Irish potatoes

B) Carnival goldfish

C) Unlimited beer raffle tickets

D) Mother’s Day flowers

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

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

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

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: The name of America’s oldest warship

PHILLIP AHEAD

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

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

Photo of the day

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

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

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

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

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

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

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

Ramped-up rhetoric

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

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

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

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

Politics reporters Katie Bernard and Gillian McGoldrick have the story.

In other gubernatorial news:

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

School admissions policy back in court

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

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) They are all NextGen Acela trains

B) Their seats have been removed

C) They bear “MARC” logos

D) They have wider doors

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

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

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

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Coffee chain

BASS TRUCK

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

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

Photo of the day

Enjoy your snow-capped Tuesday. See you back here tomorrow.

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

It’s a new week, Philly, but the temps stay below freezing.

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

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

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

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

Seth Williams’ next chapter

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

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

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

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

Reporter Chris Palmer visited Williams at work to learn more.

Montco veteran arrested at ICE protest

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you should know today

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

Quote of the day

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

🧠 Trivia time

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

A) Horizons

B) Vedge

C) Ground Provisions

D) HipCityVeg

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

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

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

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

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

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: URBN’s discount store

CIRCLE ETC

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

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

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

Photo of the day

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Michael Thomas Leibrandt, who shares an appreciation for a modern Birds star:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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