Category: Inquirer Morning Newsletter

Morning, Philly. Today’s newsletter is all about buildings.

Thousands of new apartments have sprung up in Center City since 2015. But who, exactly, is living in all of them?

And demolition has started at the mosaic-clad former Painted Bride Art Center building. See how the Old City space went from art haven to neighborhood battleground.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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New neighbors

Between Pine and Vine Streets, river to river, 3,500 new apartments have opened since 2023. If you’ve lived in Philly for a while, you might have looked up at all those high-rise towers and wondered: Who’s up there?

The answer is, more than likely, a bunch of carless, 30-something transplants who work at Jefferson.

🏢 Most of these renters are young — under 45 — and probably don’t own a car, a Center City District survey found. Nearly half moved from beyond the region, but they want to stay for at least the next few years. Many work in Center City or very close by, and they’re in healthcare more than any other sector.

🏢 They say they’re attracted by the downtown area’s density and walkability. They’re also likely to pay nearly double the median Philadelphia rent, for an average of $2,645.

🏢 Case in point: “I love that Philadelphia has so much energy,” said a Logan Square data analyst who moved to the city with his wife, a Cooper University Hospital employee, from Baltimore last year. Next, they hope to buy a condo nearby.

Commercial real estate reporter Jake Blumgart has more on a changing Center City.

In other housing news: Airbnb expects to host 17,000 guests at its short-term rentals across the region when the FIFA World Cup comes here next summer.

The fall of the Painted Bride

The former site of the Painted Bride at 230 Vine St. is in the process of being demolished to make way for apartments and commercial space.

This unceremonious ending follows a nearly six-year legal battle that pitted artists and preservationists against neighbors, who opposed developer Shimi Zakin’s plans to save the arts space. Zakin said he now hopes to incorporate pieces of the exterior’s 7,000-square-foot mirror-and-tile mosaic by Isaiah Zagar into his new building.

But the celebrated structure had faced tumult before.

See the full timeline of the Painted Bride’s stay in Old City, and the complicated legal battles that led to its building’s razing.

More arts funding news: A Roxborough nonprofit thought it had $170,000 in the bank. Then the payroll didn’t clear.

What you should know today

• A man and teenager who were killed Tuesday in Germantown had met for the sale of a Rolex watch.
• A North Philadelphia street-gang hitman wanted in connection with three murders was taken into custody Wednesday in Delaware County, officials said.
• Out-of-state residents can’t use New Jersey’s aid-in-dying law, a federal appeals court ruled.
• King of Prussia-based Recovery Centers of America will pay $2 million to settle federal claims of illegally dispensing controlled substances and falsely billing Medicaid.
• The Trump administration changed the name on a portrait of former Health Secretary Rachel Levine, formerly Pennsylvania’s physician general. She called it a “petty action.”
• Former Gov. Ed Rendell has endorsed State Sen. Sharif Street to succeed U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans.
• A former Philly teacher-turned-Democratic official wants to unseat a Republican state senator in the suburbs, part of a larger effort to flip the state Senate for the first time in 31 years.
• Philadelphia City Council voted Wednesday against Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s vision for her signature housing plan, signaling a win for progressives.
• A Philly judge’s ruling in a charter case has called into question Joyce Wilkerson’s seat on the school board.
• For the second year in a row, the Delaware County Council approved a double-digit property tax increase.

Quote of the day

Richardson is now making “bus-driver rap” in a different way: He has become a go-to artist for Philly-set TV show Abbott Elementary, plus Albie’s Elevator and other local productions .

🧠 Trivia time

Beginning Jan. 5, twice-weekly trash pickup is coming to which area of the city?

A) North Philadelphia

B) West Philadelphia

C) Northeast Philadelphia

D) Northwest Philadelphia

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re…

🪙 Collecting: The new Semiquincentennial coins featuring three Philly landmarks.

🥊 Following: The latest plans to keep a Rocky statue at the top of the Art Museum steps.

🫗 Glad to know: The Ridley Creek oil spill cleanup is almost complete.

⛸️ Cheering on: This Mount Laurel figure skater and Olympic hopeful.

🥔 Eager to try: South Philly’s Mod Spuds, a monthlong jacket potato pop-up, plus South Street’s new Banshee from Cheu alums.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Lt. Gov. _ _

UNSAID VISTA

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

Cheers to Fatima Lee, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Wissinoming. Jeff Brown, whose family operates a dozen local ShopRites, recently purchased the Shoppes at Wissinoming shopping center in Northeast Philadelphia for $30.8 million.

Photo of the day

📚 One last homey thing: When Abel Tootle Jr. bought his home 13 years ago, it gave him full freedom to design a space reflecting his interests — most importantly his many, many books. Check out his “maximalist” North Philly rowhouse.

Sounds like a dream home to me. I’ll be OOO through next week, so Paola and Sam will bring you the weekday news. ‘Til we meet again in your inbox, be well.

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Good morning, Philly.

Philadelphia is now the top market for online gambling companies — and addiction helplines are ringing off the hook.

And approximately 2.7 million state agency letters were never mailed to Pennsylvania residents last month, officials say, after a state-contracted vendor failed to send them.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘A national crisis’ centered on Philly

“I have nothing. I’ve gambled everything away on FanDuel.”

📱 In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, two of only six states in the U.S. where both sports betting and online casino games are legal, gambling helpline calls have tripled since 2021. Half cite online gambling as their main problem.

📱 Many of those who call the helplines report the devastating impact the activity has on their lives, from blown paychecks and foreclosed homes to ruined relationships. In New Jersey, debt averages to about $34,000 for each caller.

📱 Meanwhile, advertisers have pounced on the fast-growing market, spending $37 million in the Philadelphia area in 2025 — more than New York City and much more than Las Vegas. Experts say lawmakers have struggled to keep pace with the industry’s rise.

Reporters Max Marin and Lizzie Mulvey dig into the data, plus anonymized helpline call logs and state revenue reports, for this investigation.

Mail fail

More details are emerging about the millions of pieces of mail from Pennsylvania agencies that never made it to residents last month.

A state-contracted vendor was fired last week after officials discovered the mistake, which affected PennDot and Department of Human Services correspondence from Nov. 3 through Dec. 3.

Missing mail from PennDot included driver’s license and vehicle registration renewal invitations. It’s not yet clear what type of communications went unsent from DHS, a representative said, though Electronic Benefit Transfer cards and some other benefits-related items were not affected.

Questions remain, too, about why it took a full month for officials to determine that the mail had not been reaching residents, and how the issue was discovered.

State politics reporter Gillian McGoldrick has more.

What you should know today

• President Donald Trump hosted a rally Tuesday night in Northeastern Pennsylvania to try to flip the script on affordability concerns. Before Trump spoke at the Mount Pocono casino, gamblers shared a mixed view of the economy.
• Twin Atlantic County brothers were arrested and charged Tuesday with allegedly writing threats on social media against a federal employee and immigration agents.
• A top Philadelphia fire department official was demoted amid a sexual harassment probe. The city refuses to discuss the case.
• The Frankford Arsenal once housed Philly’s narcotics unit. The site gave police officers brain cancer, lawsuits contend.
• New Jersey officials are asking residents to voluntarily curtail water as a plunge in rainfall strains reservoirs, streams, and aquifers.
• The University of Delaware on Tuesday appointed Laura A. Carlson, who had been serving as interim president, to the permanent post, effective Jan. 1.
• Philadelphia’s newest school building, Alternative Middle Years at James Martin in Port Richmond, will open in January. Take a look inside.
• Typical retail workers would need to make more than twice their annual wages to afford the region’s median-priced apartment, per Redfin.
• The Phillies and free agent slugger Kyle Schwarber have agreed on a new five-year contract worth $150 million. The team has also extended manager Rob Thomson’s contract through 2027.

Quote of the day

A five-week-long, multidisciplinary arts festival called What Now: 2026 will launch in May as part of the county’s Semiquincentennial. Collaborators include BlackStar, Philadanco!, and Theatre in the X.

P.S. Also coming in 2026? Year-round FringeArts programming, a souped-up RockyFest (possibly including a permanent Rocky statue atop the Art Museum steps), and lots of Liberty Bells.

🧠 Trivia time

Philly native Sheinelle Jones is taking over Hoda Kotb’s chair at Today permanently. She once worked as cohost of which other morning show?

A) Morning Joe

B) Good Day Philadelphia

C) Preston & Steve Show

D) Good Morning America

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and where) we’re…

🏢 Eyeing: The Wanamaker building owners’ plans for a rooftop pool and a sunny Grand Court.

🍾 Living it up: Center City’s newest bar, which plans to serve caviar and $600 glasses of Champagne.

🍷 Shopping: These excellent wine shops in Philly and the suburbs.

☕ Checking out: Trung Nguyên, the Starbucks of Vietnamese coffee.

⚽ Considering: Philly’s Haitian soccer fans’ excitement for their team’s World Cup match at the Linc.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Area in Northeast Philadelphia

MISSION WING

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

Cheers to Rohit Lal, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Wynnewood. Residents of the Main Line community are building a Village to help Lower Merion’s older adults age in place.

Photo of the day

🎄 One last festive thing: Brandywine Valley businesses get a Christmas boom from Longwood Gardens visitors. In the run-up to the Kennett Square attraction’s light show festival, “we know that we need to be staffed up and ready,” one local restaurateur told The Inquirer.

Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. Stay warm out there.

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.

Hundreds of Philadelphians live next to dangerous abandoned buildings. The city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections stopped using a tool meant to track vacant properties.

And in other housing news, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker visited pulpits across West and North Philadelphia on Sunday, promoting her vision for her signature H.O.M.E. initiative that’s heightening tensions in City Hall.

Plus, as of Sunday evening, union leaders representing SEPTA’s bus, subway, and trolley operators were still negotiating to avoid a strike. In the case of a SEPTA work stoppage, Philadelphia School District’s contingency plans may include some virtual classes. See the latest updates at Inquirer.com.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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When vacant homes threaten neighbors

Across Philadelphia, scores of families live next to vacant properties that are or could become dangerous — houses with collapsing porches, flooded basements, foundation-cracking weeds, and the like.

Many of those empty and imminently dangerous buildings are rowhouses, which share walls with neighboring homes. Disproportionately, they are based in the city’s poorest zip codes.

The total amount, though, is unclear. L&I’s methods of tracking vacant properties have shifted in recent years, including the discontinuation of an algorithmic tool to predict whether a property is likely to be vacant.

In the meantime, concerned residents and community activists want L&I to do more to ensure their safety, in some cases organizing to get the city to deal with abandoned properties more quickly.

Real estate reporter Michaelle Bond and data reporter Joe Yerardi have the story.

Further reading: Worried about the vacant building next door? An expert explains what do, from taking pictures to logging formal complaints with the city.

Parker pitches housing plan

Amid City Hall tensions, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker spent the weekend seeking public support for her signature housing initiative, the Housing Opportunities Made Easy program, aka H.O.M.E.

🏠 Parker on Sunday promoted the $800 million program to congregants at 10 churches, emphasizing that she wants to ensure the funding helps Philadelphians of varying incomes.

🏠 The speaking tour followed City Council’s changes last week to H.O.M.E.’s initial budget and eligibility requirements to prioritize Philly’s lowest-income households.

🏠 “We’ve got to take care of the people who are most in need, but we can’t penalize the people who are going to work every day, pay their taxes, contribute to the city, and they can’t benefit from home improvement programs,” Parker said during a stop at Cobbs Creek’s Church of Christian Compassion.

Reporter Maggie Prosser has more from the tour.

In other local funding news: A bilingual credit union, Finanta Credit Union, is now open in Port Richmond. It’s seeking “unbanked” customers who want to buy homes and build businesses.

What you should know today

• One man was killed and another seriously injured in a shooting Saturday in West Philadelphia, police said. The same day, one man died following a blaze at the Manchester Apartments in the Northeast, according to police reports.
• U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick plans to introduce a bipartisan bill to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies after this fall’s shutdown battle left the issue unresolved. Meanwhile, for every person who signed up for Obamacare health insurance in Pennsylvania last month, two others dropped their plans in anticipation of skyrocketing costs.
• Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is permanently banned from holding public office in New Jersey — and if he tries, he could face criminal charges.
• A Philadelphia journalist was sentenced Friday to 20 years in federal prison for possessing thousands of images and videos of child pornography.
• Jeffrey Yass, Pennsylvania’s richest man, detailed how school vouchers drive his massive political spending operation in a rare interview with The Washington Post.
• A Wistar Institute scientist’s study has found a new approach to ovarian cancer treatment, which tends to be resistant to hormone therapy.
• Former Fabric Workshop and Museum leader Christina Vassallo will become executive director of the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage on Jan. 5, Pew announced Monday.
• ESPN will host an animated Monsters Funday Football alternate broadcast of the Eagles’ Monday night matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Quote of the day

The students of Room 221 at Fanny Jackson Coppin Elementary in South Philly watched a massive construction project rise for months outside their classroom window. At teacher Kate Atkins’ request, the builders came to class last week and answered their questions about the project.

Among them: “Why did you decide to make the house bigger by making it taller instead of making it wider?” and “Will it be done by Christmas?” (The latter answer is no — and not by Hanukkah, either.)

🧠 Trivia time

Tony Award-winning playwright Tom Stoppard died last week at 88. To which Philadelphia theater did the Czech writer have a close connection?

A) Wilma Theater

B) Miller Theater

C) Forrest Theatre

D) Academy of Music

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re…

🦅 Congratulating: Jordan Mailata, the Eagles’ 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.

⚽ Just as excited as: These soccer fans ready to host a World Cup in their hometown.

🖌️ Following: This graphic designer creating a new art piece after all 82 Sixers games.

🌊 Taking: A holiday field trip to Lewes and the Delaware Beaches.

🎤 Considering: How KPop Demon Hunters explains OpenAI becoming a public benefit corporation.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: University City music venue

LOW CARVED LIFE

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

Cheers to Nick Petryszyn, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Not for Nothing. The South Philly crime drama debuted on Amazon Prime this week.

Photo of the day

Beep beep, the Care Bears bus is here: SEPTA workers displayed eight of their holiday-themed buses during the annual Festibus celebration in LOVE Park on Saturday.

📬 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 Jack Kapp, who describes a perfect game — and afternoon — from his youth in Northeast Philadelphia:

I was 10 in the summer of 1964. My father started letting me handle the lawn mower. We didn’t have much of a lawn, but it needed to be done. I did a fairly good job, and he proposed that my twin and I start a small business mowing the neighbors’ lawns. We agreed, enticed by the idea of making money.

I clearly remember mowing lawns the day of Phillies pitcher Jim Bunning’s perfect game on Father’s Day, June 21, 1964. This was to become a seminal event in Philadelphia sports history — one of the greatest games ever pitched. It was a doubleheader. His game was first. It was a hot day, and we rushed to get our work done. My father didn’t watch too much TV or baseball, but I guess because it was Father’s Day, he watched it with us.

It was the first perfect game in the National League since 1880, the first in regular-season baseball since 1922, and only the seventh in the history of the majors. Quite the achievement. Bunning, the father of seven children at that time (he would have two more after that), threw only 90 pitches, and struck out 10 batters.

It was also one of the best days that I ever spent with my father. Bunning would go on, after a fabulous Hall of Fame career, to become a U.S. senator from Kentucky for many years. I met him once, and told him this story. He thanked me politely.

Wishing you a smooth start to your week. See you back here tomorrow.

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Good morning. Traces of snow coated parts of the region Friday, but Saturday should be mostly cloudy.

Today, we’re chatting about Philly’s year in music and our top Google searches.

But first, let’s cover why SEPTA’s largest union appears to be on the verge of a strike, how Amazon delivery could pick up speed in Philly, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• Union leaders representing SEPTA’s bus, subway, and trolley operators have grown frustrated with contract negotiations and are preparing members to walk off the job. Visit Inquirer.com for the latest updates.
• Experts in Philadelphia sharply criticized a CDC panel’s decision to end a long-standing recommendation to immunize all infants at birth against hepatitis B. The vaccine was first developed in the city.
• A judge vacated more than 130 drug cases after prosecutors said three Philadelphia narcotics officers repeatedly gave false testimony in court. Hundreds more cases may see the same fate in the coming months.
• Wonderland Pier will undergo a review for possible redevelopment after officials voted to move forward this week.
• A former top Philadelphia labor official claims in a lawsuit that she was passed over for a promotion because she’s a woman, and was later fired after raising concerns about gender-based discrimination spanning two mayoral administrations.
• Amazon is testing out a new delivery model that would get items to customers in 30 minutes or less.
• The celebrated architect Frank Gehry died Friday at the age of 96. His acclaimed signature can be found from the audacious Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain, to the 2021 renovation of the Philadelphia Art Museum.
• Delaware County is now the third of Philadelphia’s collar counties to enact a local policy protecting LGBTQ+ residents from discrimination.
• Would you be a Grinch if you’re bothered by a neighbor’s Christmas lights shining brightly into your bedroom? Inquirer reporters discuss the holiday question.
• From Delco Donny turning Wawa parking lots into concert venues to Eagles fans egging Kevin Patullo’s house, catch up on the good, bad, and weird in the latest Philly news.

This week’s obsession

By now, you may have already seen your personalized music-listening habits courtesy of Spotify Wrapped and other streaming services, or swiped past countless social media posts of people sharing theirs. As far as Spotify goes, things are slightly different in the city this year.

Rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake stood strong in our streams, so Taylor Swift is no longer Philly’s top artist of the year (the Reading-born singer dropped to No. 2). Newtown native Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” ranked No. 4 among Philadelphia’s top podcasts. Personally, my favorite feature of Spotify Wrapped 2025 was “listening age.” With “Who’s Crying Now” playing in the background, mine said I’m actually 60 years old with “an old soul” because I enjoyed a lot of early ’80s tunes.

But music isn’t the only data dump we have to contend with. Just one look at Google’s 2025 “Year in Search” report tells you everything you need to know about Philadelphia’s psyche. It turns out we couldn’t stop searching slang terms like “clock it” and “6-7” (which was born here, IYKYK), Eagles players DeVonta Smith and Cooper DeJean (to cop kelly green jerseys), and two songs by Swift: “Wood” and “Father Figure.”

These behaviors are a lot more algorithmically curated and influenced than, say, the number of cheesesteaks we ate or times we hollered “Go Birds.” Still, it’s been fun to see Philly make other creative end-of-year recaps, like Fillmore Philly crunching venue numbers, the Phillies’ “John Kruk Wrapped” video, and the Brass Tap highlighting its most popular karaoke track — which just so happens to be Philly’s No. 5 song of the year.

One viewpoint

This week, Marra’s in South Philadelphia shut its doors for good. The classic Italian restaurant, just two years shy of a century in operation, cited parking challenges along the renowned dining corridor as a contributing factor.

Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson argues that the neighborhood fixture and South Philly aren’t alone in managing a process Pearson calls “suburbanization.”

In the latest edition of “Shackamaxon,” Pearson unpacks ways in which cities change, whether some like it or not.

🧠 Trivia time

Somewhere in Philly, there’s a pond garden near a traditional tea house.

Where is it?

A) Calder Gardens

B) Morris Arboretum & Gardens

C) Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center

D) Bartram’s Garden

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Penn State’s next head coach

CLAM TEMPT LAB

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

Cheers to Rick Eisenberg, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: High Note Caffe. The classic South Philadelphia restaurant has a new life as an old-time nightclub.

✨ We were there

It’s lit (literally). The Philly Holiday Tree shone its 6,000 lights bright for the lighting ceremony at City Hall on Thursday. Grammy-winning artists Ashanti and Lalah Hathaway performed for attendees.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

A Redditor wants to know who is feeding the city’s feral cones and road barrels: “Now we’re dealing with a full-on colony at 31st and Girard,” they wrote. The comments are a gold mine.

Over on Facebook, people are raving about the vegan-style Puerto Rican dishes at Casa Borinqueña. Earlier this year, we listed it among the best places serving vegan comfort food.

I can’t be the only one trying to wrap my mind around the way Gritty described his perfect day in Philadelphia. Unfortunately for us, he’s gatekeeping the dumpster he eats “delicious half-eaten burritos” out of.

And The Inquirer wants to hear from you: What’s your favorite dive bar in the city? Fill out this form to tell us what makes your spot special.

👋🏽 Thanks for starting your day here. Take care.

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Wake up, Philly, we made it to Friday.

THC-infused beverages, sold at smoke shops across the Philadelphia region, will soon be illegal. Companies are now mobilizing to save the billion-dollar industry, while officials say reforms could avert a public health crisis.

And SEPTA is set to miss another deadline, this time due to a lack of parts to install heat-detection systems in Regional Rail cars.

Read along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Outlawing intoxicating drinks

THC drinks, found for sale on shelves in Philadelphia and beyond, could soon be illegal after Congress banned intoxicating hemp products.

Catch up quick: Hemp-derived THC seltzers, teas, and sodas are widely available at gas stations and liquor stores. This unregulated market, made possible through a legal loophole that will close as soon as 2027, has exploded into a billion-dollar business.

The industry responds: As companies brace for impact, leaders are fighting for changes and extended grace periods for the legislation, warning the ban could hurt distribution lines and sales. Meanwhile, consumers say demand will remain even if the beverages are prohibited.

Concerns remain: Philly-area prosecutors stress the public health is at risk and are pushing for sweeping reforms and regulations, similar to those on alcohol and tobacco. And while some industry stakeholders also support more oversight, some small-business owners worry about the effects of “overcorrection.”

Reporter Henry Savage has the story.

Short on parts — and time

SEPTA had until Friday to finish equipping all 223 Silverliner IV Regional Rail cars with a new safety feature, but the transit agency didn’t make the deadline.

It blames a shortage of thermal wire, necessary for the heat-detection system required by the Federal Railroad Administration.

To outfit the entire fleet, SEPTA needed about 39,000 feet of wire. It’s short by about 7,000.

Transportation reporter Tom Fitzgerald explains what this means for the system and commuters.

What you should know today

• The Philadelphia School Board reelected its president and vice president and approved a new contract for principals that, for the first time, includes paid parental leave.
• A second woman has accused a Philadelphia doctor of sexual abuse that allegedly occurred when she worked for him as a medical assistant.
• President Donald Trump will visit Northeast Pennsylvania on Tuesday to promote his economic agenda, including efforts to lower inflation, the White House confirmed to The Inquirer on Thursday.
• Immigration activists rallied at Philadelphia’s Criminal Justice Center Thursday to demand Sheriff Rochelle Bilal bar ICE from the courthouse, while Bilal supporters said she’s been unfairly blamed. Meanwhile in Montgomery County, advocates urged local towns and municipalities to enact policies that would limit police and local government cooperation with ICE.
• The family of a man accused of killing his wife is suing Montgomery County and two medical companies, saying they denied him crucial healthcare while in the county jail, leading to his untimely death.
• Paul Staico, owner of the South Philly bar dedicated to the Kansas City Chiefs, has died at 59. Many of the people who packed Big Charlie’s Saloon every Sunday said they were mostly “there for Paul.”
• Burlington County prosecutors charged two men in connection with a double fatal shooting outside a Bordentown convenience store in November.
• Waymo has begun testing driverless cars in Philadelphia. It expects to offer its robotaxis to customers at some point afterward.
• Uri Monson, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s longtime confidant and Pennsylvania’s budget secretary, is the new executive director of the $80 billion-asset Pennsylvania school pension and investment system.
• A $78.6 million hybrid ferry slated to join the fleet of vessels connecting Cape May and Lewes, Del., is expected to begin construction in 2026.

Plus: What brings customers to Philly’s live poultry stores?

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

This week, we have an explainer from reporter Michelle Myers on the dynamics of the live poultry business in the Philadelphia region.

Every week, about 500,000 birds are sent to live poultry stores across Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. These markets are more common in areas like Philadelphia with significant and growing immigrant populations. Here’s the full story.

Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.

🧠 Trivia time

This musician with Pennsylvania roots slammed the Trump administration this week for using their song without permission in a video promoting ICE.

A) Diplo

B) Pink

C) Taylor Swift

D) Sabrina Carpenter

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

What we’re…

🧆 Excited to try: Some of the finest falafel in the Philly region.

🚧 Checking: How much of the I-95 cap project is now complete.

💰 Breaking down: Why South Jersey superintendents get tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses.

⚾ Remembering: When the Phillies gave up on converting New York baseball fans.

📝 Considering: A study on how preserving historic districts actually impacts development and housing.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A classic South Philadelphia restaurant

HENCE FIFTH AGO

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

Cheers to Morgan Flores, who solved Thursday’s anagram: RuPaul’s Drag Race. Philly drag queen Mandy Mango will compete in the show’s 18th season, premiering in January.

Photo of the day

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend.

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Good morning, Philly. We’re in for some clouds today.

The political operatives who powered the successful Mamdani and Fetterman campaigns are trying to win House seats for Democrats in Pennsylvania.

And Northeast Philly’s Franklin Mall — aka Franklin Mills — is for sale after years of plummeting valuation, occupancy, and visitor numbers.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘A new road map’ for Pa. political campaigns

A Pennsylvania-based consulting firm that has worked with the likes of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is setting its sights on 2026, and the Keystone State.

🔵 Led by longtime Democratic political operatives, FIGHT has found success in helping progressive candidates win high-profile races such as Mamdani’s, and flipping Republican-held seats such as the one Sen. John Fetterman took in 2022.

🔵 They’re now focused on two swingy congressional seats — one in Northeast Pennsylvania, one in the Lehigh Valley — with an aim to craft buzzy campaigns that reflect the communities they’re running in.

🔵 “New York isn’t Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania isn’t New York,” cofounder Rebecca Katz, a Central High graduate, said of lessons learned from Mamdani’s win. “But there’s a universal desire for authentic candidates laser-focused on the affordability crisis.”

Politics reporter Julia Terruso has the story on FIGHT’s hyperlocal tactics.

In other political news: Gov. Josh Shapiro lashed out over former Vice President Kamala Harris’ portrayal of his interview to become her 2024 running mate, calling Harris’ retellings “complete and utter bulls—” intended to sell books.

Mills madness

Another regional shopping destination is facing change.

A real estate listing suggests the sprawling, 36-year-old Franklin Mills in the Far Northeast could be redeveloped for industrial and office uses. Experts say it could become warehouse or residential space, too, as is the plan for other area malls.

The building could also remain an outlet mall, though foot traffic, sales, and occupancy have been dropping for years. And demolition is on the table: “Ultimately, it may just be a piece of land” for sale, one expert told The Inquirer.

Commercial reporter Jake Blumgart has more on the once-bustling mall’s possible fates.

What you should know today

• More than 65,000 immigrants are being held in federal detention, a two-thirds increase from when President Donald Trump took office, new data show.
• The Trump administration has threatened to cut food aid funds for Democrat-run states if they don’t release recipient data, prompting outrage in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
• A Philadelphia man was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for making violent and racist threats to two Black women.
• Gov. Phil Murphy has asked the Indian government to extradite an accused killer to South Jersey to face criminal charges in the 2017 death of a woman and her son.
• A former Montgomery County executive says in a lawsuit that he was fired because of mental health accommodation requests, and because he was whistleblowing on wrongdoing.
• The Philadelphia Parking Authority would renovate and run the abandoned Greyhound bus terminal on Filbert Street under legislation approved Wednesday by a key City Council committee. And a Philly tax loophole allows refunds for people who steal homes, but a new Council bill would direct that money to victims.
• Philly-based restaurateur Stephen Starr is facing union-busting charges brought by the National Labor Relations Board over activity at his Washington, D.C., steakhouse.
• Nearly a year after local Whole Foods workers voted to form a union, their union’s ability to move forward and negotiate a contract is locked in a procedural standstill.
• A majority of Chinatown’s new gains in population and business have resulted in a decline in the share of Asian residents amid concerns over gentrification and displacement, a new report found.

Quote of the day

Kevin Patullo’s Moorestown home was vandalized with eggs early Saturday, just hours after the Eagles lost to the Chicago Bears and fell to 8-4. The coach on Monday expressed a desire to move forward from the incident and ongoing fan criticism and direct his attention to the next game.

🧠 Trivia time

Which of these young Philadelphians is not included on the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list?

A) Textile artist Qualeasha Wood

B) ChompSaw cofounder Kausi Raman

C) Social media influencer Brandon Edelman

D) Eagles running back Saquon Barkley

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🥄 Excited about: December’s Philly-area restaurant forecast, which includes a honky-tonk and a Michelin star-winner’s third venture.

🏥 Debunking: Five autism myths with a CHOP expert.

🩰 Seeing: Four exciting Nutcracker versions staged in Philadelphia this season.

🌲 Ordering: A fresh-cut Christmas tree for delivery.

📓 Considering: Whether a humanities degree is a smart investment, actually.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A local performer will compete in its 18th season

CAPSULAR GUARDER

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

Cheers to Amber Ovens, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Neshaminy. A graduate of the Bucks County community’s eponymous high school cofounded Shwego, a start-up that tracks trucks and tradespeople.

Photo of the day

🎄 One last joyous thing: The former Macy’s space has come back to life with the return of the holiday lights show, Opera Philadelphia’s Pipe Up! series, and other festive events scheduled through December. I’m looking forward to visiting with my own family soon.

P.S. Looking for a fantastical lights display in the suburbs? Check out the 50th annual Festival of Lights, returning to Media this week.

Have a good one. Paola has you covered tomorrow through the weekend.

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Hi, Philly. We’ll see sun today after the region avoided the worst of yesterday’s storm.

Affordable Care Act tax credits are set to expire at the end of this year, unless they’re renewed or replaced. See how health insurance premiums are estimated to rise across the region, depending on where someone lives, how old they are, and what they earn.

And a man died driving on Northwest Philadelphia’s winding, wet roads. The neighborhood has tried to address the danger for decades.

Plus, Chester County might be the only Philly suburb not raising taxes next year. Read on for a preview of Inquirer Chester County, the free weekly newsletter launching today.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Health insurance premiums could increase fivefold

Have a health insurance plan through Pennie in Pennsylvania, Get Covered NJ in New Jersey, or Healthcare.gov in Delaware? You could see costs rise dramatically in 2026 after Congress failed to renew the financial incentive program during the budget negotiations that prompted this fall’s government shutdown.

If Congress does not approve an extension of the tax credits, monthly premiums for some could increase fivefold, but the amount depends on factors such as age, income, and county of residence. Consider these cases:

Case study #1: A 27-year-old Philadelphia resident who makes $35,000 a year could go from paying $86 to $218.

Case study #2: A 60-year-old Camden County resident who makes $65,000 could go from paying $461 to $1,157.

Use our tool to see how much you’ll pay for health insurance if ACA tax credits expire.

‘It’s a curvy, tricky road’

Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy residents have for years sounded the alarm about dangerous — and, in at least five cases since 2019, deadly — driving conditions on the winding Lincoln Drive.

The latest fatal accident occurred on Sunday: A 65-year-old man died after crashing his car on Cresheim Valley Drive, which intersects with Lincoln.

The Streets Department has installed some traffic-calming measures to improve safety along the area’s roadways. Neighbors want to see more. Most urgently, that includes the repair of the downed guardrail that failed to prevent this weekend’s crash.

Reporter Henry Savage has more on residents’ pleas and the city’s efforts.

What you should know today

• As a Fox News contributor in 2016, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth cited the same military law as the lawmakers he’s now calling seditious, unearthed recordings show.
• A Philadelphia highway patrol officer has died after a prolonged coma. Andy Chan, 48, was hospitalized in 2019 with a brain injury after a motorcycle crash.
• A Wilmington man who planned to target the University of Delaware campus police station with firearms was arrested last week and charged with federal weapons crimes, authorities said.
• A Pottstown man who shot a police officer who came to his home to respond to a domestic violence incident last year was sentenced Tuesday to decades in state prison.
• City Council on Tuesday amended the initial budget for Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s signature housing initiative by allotting more housing funds to the poorest Philadelphians.
• The William Way LGBT Community Center will return to its Center City building after renovations are completed, leaders said Tuesday, instead of permanently leaving as previously announced.
• A former Cherry Hill principal claims says he did not engage in discriminatory behavior or retaliate against a former employee following a lawsuit filed earlier this year.
• Blackfish BYOB’s 19-year run in Conshohocken will end New Year’s Eve, as chef-owner Chip Roman says he’s following a “bigger purpose.” And in Rittenhouse, Revolution Taco, owned by Carolyn Nguyen, will close to become Carolyn’s Modern Vietnamese.

Plus: Chester County holds the financial line

Inquirer Chester County launches today. Below is a peek at what you can expect from the free, weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get your guide to the news, stories, and events shaping life in your community.

Chester County residents may be the only ones in Philadelphia’s suburbs to dodge a property tax hike in 2026.

While the county’s proposed budget for next year has a 4.7% spending increase, officials don’t expect to pass that on to taxpayers. That’s thanks to non-personnel budget cuts initiated earlier this year across departments, as well as delayed projects.

While still navigating financial uncertainty, the bipartisan Chester County Board of Commissioners tasked officials with holding “the line in terms of tax increases,” county CEO David Byerman said. The budget is expected to pass doing just that.

Reporter Katie Bernard has more on how the county maintained property taxes for 2026.

🧠 Trivia time

Which Delaware County university has entered an agreement to buy nearly half of the Valley Forge Military Academy property?

A) Villanova University

B) Neumann University

C) Widener University

D) Eastern University

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🚌 Supporting: Quinta Brunson’s field trip fund for Philly public school students.

🏕️ Humming: “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah!” ahead of this Allan Sherman tribute.

🍽️ Congratulating: Fishtown’s Emmett, named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants.

🏡 Noting: This professional home appraiser’s explanation of the appraisal process.

🕊️ Considering: How Philly’s faith communities are showing up for immigrants.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: In Bucks County

SHINY NAME

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

Cheers to Jack Falkenbach, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Logan Circle. The Center City park will have new sidewalks, ADA ramps, and a restored fountain this spring following a monthslong construction project.

Photo of the day

Get your winter fashion on and have a good one. I’ll see you back here tomorrow morning.

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Morning, Philly. We’re in for a cold, wet Tuesday — and another storm threat looms for the weekend.

A historic preservation bill is provoking debate: Supporters say the legislation gives more notice and power to property owners, while opponents say it will damage the city’s heritage.

And internal documents shed light on Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s decision to scrap contracting requirements meant to boost diversity and equity.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. We inadvertently sent our Sports Daily newsletter to your inbox yesterday morning. Don’t worry — you won’t continue to get it unless you’re already subscribed. Manage your newsletter preferences at any time here.

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Good government fix? Or demolition derby?

Most of Philadelphia’s buildings were constructed before the mid-20th century, though few are historically protected. A newly proposed bill from Councilmember Mark Squilla has caused a stir amid heightened debate around preservation.

In the bill: The legislation would institute changes to the city’s Historical Commission, which ensures that historic properties cannot be demolished or their exteriors substantially altered. One big update gives property owners at least 30 days before a pending nomination of their building goes to the commission and protections kick in.

In favor: Developers and other proponents of the bill argue that it is simply meant to give more notice and power to property owners before their buildings are considered for preservation.

In opposition: Preservationists fear that developers will use the extra time to begin razing historic buildings. Some preservation critics dislike the bill, too, saying it doesn’t help homeowners facing high costs to maintain historic properties.

Commercial real estate reporter Jake Blumgart has the details.

In other housing news: City Council bills that cap rental application fees and allow renters to pay security deposits in installments take effect Tuesday.

‘Disadvantaged’ vs. ‘small and local’

More details are emerging about the Parker administration’s decision to halt the use of some diversity targets in city contracts. The shift, which was revealed last month but enacted at some point earlier this year, came in the face of potential legal challenges as national DEI backlash grows.

According to documents obtained by The Inquirer, a law firm hired by the city recommended that Parker adopt a new policy favoring “socially and economically disadvantaged” businesses. Instead, the mayor prioritized “small and local” firms.

Her administration says this language will still help historically disadvantaged firms. Critics argue that it doesn’t go far enough to help women and Black and brown Philadelphians who were the focus of the previous, decades-old policy.

City Hall reporter Sean Collins Walsh has more.

What you should know today

• President Donald Trump’s efforts to keep Alina Habba as the top prosecutor in New Jersey aren’t legal, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.
• A man accused of committing voter fraud in Bucks County in 2020 is seeking to wipe out a pending criminal case, saying Trump’s pardoning of dozens of allies who helped him try to overturn that election should extend to him, too.
• A New Jersey Senate hearing on a proposal to scale back the authority of a state oversight office degenerated Monday into a blistering back-and-forth between officials.
• Rutgers-Camden is celebrating 100 years with a boost in dorm occupancy and international students. Now, its chancellor hopes for more support from central administration.
• Foundation for Delaware County’s Family Village initiative aims to close health gaps in the county, especially for those affected by Crozer Health’s closure.
• Mars Co-Op, the Philadelphia rapper known for the standout verse he contributed to The Roots’ song “Clones” from 1996, has died.
• Marra’s, Philly’s oldest pizzeria, has closed after 98 years on East Passyunk Avenue. EMei, one of the city’s most acclaimed Sichuan restaurants, is taking over the building.
• After 13 years at 6abc, reporter Annie McCormick’s last day with the station was Monday, she announced on social media.
• A disgruntled Eagles fan with access to the traffic signs near the Linc had a message Monday: “Fire Kevin Patullo.” Others took it further: The offensive coordinator’s home was vandalized with eggs hours after the team lost on Friday, police confirmed.

🚉 WTF is happening with…

Transportation reporter Tom Fitzgerald has become somewhat of a social media star with his series answering readers’ questions about what the … heck … is going on with Philly’s beleaguered transit systems. See the latest video on SEPTA’s Regional Rail service and join the conversation.

🧠 Trivia time

An estate sale will open to the public this week at a Delancey Street townhouse filled with an estimated 100,000 what?

A) Brooches

B) Bongos

C) Books

D) Bananas

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🎶 Attending: These 15 Philly holiday pop concerts this month.

🪪 Noting: TSA’s new $45 fee for travelers without REAL ID.

🍪 Baking: These eight Amanda Shulman-approved cookie recipes.

🛍️ Visiting: Joan Shepp, named one of the country’s best clothing shops.

✈️ Considering: The impact of fatigue on air travel safety.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Center City park

ALL COERCING

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

Cheers to Laura Napier, who solved Monday’s anagram: Awbury Arboretum. The East Germantown nonprofit’s Francis Cope House is home to the inaugural exhibition of the Museum of African American Art Collections.

Photo of the day

🌲 One last green thing: The real Christmas tree supply is “excellent” this year after several years of shortages, industry experts say. Shopping for your own? Check out these 17 tree farms around the city and surrounding counties.

Stay cozy. I’ll be back with you tomorrow morning.

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Welcome to a new month, Philly. Stock up on rock salt (or calcium chloride) now: The season’s first bout of winter weather could hit early this week.

Despite broader economic challenges and a few restaurant vacancies, new and old Chestnut Hill businesses have found success. On this Cyber Monday, consider how the neighborhood’s main street is staying relevant in the Amazon era.

And U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle has been central in shaping Democratic messaging around Republican policies. Follow the Northeast Philadelphia lawmaker for a day in this look at his growing profile in Washington.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Old meets new in Northwest Philadelphia

As consumer habits skew digital, Chestnut Hill’s main commercial corridor has stayed busy with foot traffic.

🛍️ Business owners and retail advocates say Germantown Avenue’s diverse mix of shops — from a century-old hardware store to an all-day coffee and cocktail bar newcomer — is what continues to draw customers to the downtown area.

🍺 While some of the neighborhood’s biggest restaurants have closed recently, including the regional chain Iron Hill Brewery, patrons still visit because they expect they’ll be able to find something unique to eat, drink, or buy, experts told The Inquirer.

🎄 “When you come to Chestnut Hill over the holidays, you get what you came for,” one Germantown Avenue shop owner said. “You get that charming feeling of being somewhere special for the holiday.”

Consumer reporter Erin McCarthy explains Chestnut Hill’s commercial staying power — and the changes to come.

Further reading: After Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday. Experts share how to avoid charity scams and make your gift count.

‘He’s one of our best messengers’

🎤 I’m passing the mic to politics reporter Julia Terruso.

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a six-term lawmaker, is the most veteran of Pennsylvania’s eight Democrats in Washington. He has been the ranking member of the House Budget Committee since 2023, meaning he is the top Democrat playing defense as the Republican-controlled Congress ushers through GOP spending priorities. It can be a futile exercise in shouting into a void — until the yelling starts to echo outside.

Increasingly, Boyle, known as the Democrats’ “budget guy,” has been the man behind the messaging against President Donald Trump’s reconciliation bill and the shutdown fight over healthcare.

If Democrats reclaim Congress in next year’s election, Boyle would shift from ranking member to chair of the powerful Budget Committee, becoming the first Pennsylvanian to lead it since 1989.

It would be another resumé builder for the 48-year-old lawmaker whose role in Washington keeps growing and who has not ruled out a potential Senate run in 2028, when Democratic Sen. John Fetterman’s seat would be up. — Julia Terruso

Read on to learn how the Somerton resident’s profile is changing amid D.C.’s healthcare fight, and what he sees for his political future.

What you should know today

• A woman who waved a gun at officers died after being shot by police early Sunday in Hunting Park, officials said.
• A 25-year-old man died on Saturday at the federal prison at Fort Dix in New Jersey, prompting prison officials to notify the FBI, officials said.
• State police are investigating a Sunday shooting on I-95 that left one person wounded, and partially shut down traffic for hours.
• The Philadelphia Police Department is forming an unarmed “auxiliary” unit that could launch in 2026, adding to its ranks volunteer members to assist officers at public gatherings.
• A former Fox executive is asking the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider a petition seeking to terminate the license of the network’s Philly-area affiliate, Fox29.
• King of Prussia District is getting new funding to advance a trail project planned for Montgomery County, currently called the “Gulph Road Connector.”
• In Chester County, inmates are getting workforce training and jobs to match post-release. Nearly two years in, officials say it’s been a success.
• FIFA’s World Cup draw is happening this week. The event should help determine which international sides will play in Philadelphia this summer.
• A teen fled war in Ukraine for a new life. Now she’s at the top of her class at a Northeast Philly high school.

Quote of the day

The Bezos-owned Post snubbed Philly on its list of the country’s best sports cities. Nine Inquirer writers offer plenty of reasons why they’re wrong.

🧠 Trivia time

Which of these is a priority policy goal of Philadelphia’s new Vision Zero report?

A) The city wants to set its own speed limits

B) The city wants to change how it tracks traffic deaths

C) The city wants to get rid of bike lanes

D) The city wants to implement 20 new roundabouts

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

☃️ Planning: Outings to see these holiday light shows around Philly.

🍴 Begging you to do: Use your restaurant gift cards, ASAP.

📱 Appreciating: This Rutgers University professor’s efforts to spread kindness digitally.

🦖 Voting on: The name for the stone statue replacing Manayunk’s Bridget the Dino.

✉️ Considering: The apparent demise of mailed holiday cards.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: _ Arboretum in East Germantown

BUY RAW

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

Cheers to Maryn Gemgnani, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Robert A.M. Stern. The renowned architect whose designs included the Comcast Center and the Museum of the American Revolution, has died at 86.

And shout-out to Brad Baer, who shared this connection: “Bob was my dean in architecture school at Yale. In a full-circle moment, I was in his Comcast Center, watching the Comcast Holiday Spectacular with my wife and sons, when I learned of his passing.”

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 Megan McCusker, who describes finding a reminder of home, 100 miles away:

Branching out of my comfort zone to attend Columbia University in New York City but with roots firmly planted in Philadelphia led to an internal struggle between living the life of glamour and grind in the city that never sleeps and affecting a more laid-back, casual style. While my mind told me, “Keep up! Keep hustling!” my heart said “Just be who you are — the big-city, small-town girl from next door.”

That internal war started to fade the night the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. I had a friend who had already graduated from Columbia and was living downtown. He invited me and my friends to a place called Wogies, a sports bar that he claimed was for Philly transplants living in New York. I almost didn’t believe him that such a place existed, but since “Wogies” rhymed with “hoagies,” I thought maybe it could be true.

I arrived at Wogies to find a sea of red baseball caps and jerseys, only Phillies fans packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the center of a TV-lined bar, all eyes glued to the screens. Feeling the buzz after a beer, I felt like I had found my people and my place in a city that constantly reminds you of your anonymity.

About an hour into the game, into the bar walked a guy donning a Yankees hat flanked by two Phillies fans — his “friends.” As if the crowd could feel the presence of an intruder, the entire bar turned to see their foe, and without skipping a beat, began chanting in unison, “Boo! Boo! Get out of our house!” Nowhere in New York has a Yankees fan felt so unwelcome. The poor guy left!

It’s that kind of fan dedication and commitment that can only be inspired by being from Philadelphia. In that moment in a corner bar in the West Village, I realized my true identity without having to be physically present in Philadelphia. From then on, I had the courage to be unapologetically “from Philly” in a city where New Yorkers think talking about “the city” always and exclusively means “New York City.”

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

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Good morning. Sunday may be soggy, with rains expected throughout the day.

Today’s main read touches on the growth of electric-vehicle charging stations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, even as EV sales slow nationwide.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Charging stations forge ahead

As an unpredictable venture, the electric-vehicle business has been forecast for a downturn by analysts and automakers for a long time.

🔌 Despite a drop in EV sales, consumer interest remains strong, and charging suppliers are not losing their motivation.

🔌 Convenience stores are at the forefront of private investment in EV-charging stations. Wawa, Sheetz, and Pilot are deep into the game, with hundreds of charging locations combined.

🔌 EV owners are noticing the changes, but drivers report mixed results.

Scott Sturgis explains how federal funds play a role, and more of the latest developments in the EV world.

What you should know today

• Philadelphia police arrested a man they say struck and killed a 41-year-old woman in University City on Thanksgiving Day.
• A man died in a fire at a Strawberry Mansion home on Friday, officials said. The cause remains under investigation.
• Fans flocked to the annual Wanamaker Light Show, even as its future remains uncertain.
• The familiar Black Friday hustle descended on the Cherry Hill Mall, but as some retailers reported business as usual, others described the shopping destination as more subdued than in years past.
• Holiday travelers are returning home during a busy travel weekend and there could be disruptions to air traffic. We’re checking conditions at Philadelphia International Airport every hour.
• A white state trooper who served on the governor’s security detail is suing the Pennsylvania State Police, alleging he faced racial discrimination.
• For those who drove to South Philadelphia for the Eagles’ Black Friday matchup, the city had a postgame surprise: a new traffic management plan that might minimize stadium complex gridlock.
• A Filipino-American steakhouse called Manong is set to open in Fairmount next week. It’s a celebration of Tabachoy owner Chance Anies’ ’90s upbringing.
• A dispute over the level of taxation and accusations of retribution derailed another attempt to regulate skill games in Pennsylvania, Spotlight PA reports.
• Nobody likes rejection, but how it is communicated matters a great deal. Temple University studied the science behind softening the blow.

Design the dress

For Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s forthcoming star-studded nuptials, there’s a lot that we don’t know yet, including their attire to walk down the aisle.

In the spirit of creativity, The Inquirer recruited fashion students — and Tayvis fans — at several Philadelphia universities to sketch their own gowns and suits for the celebrity couple.

For Swift, one student said their asymmetrical gown design reflects “how Swift often separates her personal life from her stardom,” and another drew inspiration from a vintage wedding cake to craft a layered dress with a one-shouldered neckline.

And for Kelce, there’s a sporty tuxedo inspired by the football field, and another accessorized with gold chains as a nod to a lyric from one of Swift’s songs.

From fanciful to classic and architectural, swipe through our favorite selections and pick your fits.

❓Pop quiz

Somewhere in Philly, there’s a shopping center with a Starbucks coffee shop and a Sunglass Hut store right next to each other.

Where is it?

A) Fashion District Philadelphia

B) King of Prussia Mall

C) Philadelphia Premium Outlets

D) Franklin Mall

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Renowned architect who designed the Comcast Center and the Museum of the American Revolution

AMBER TORRENTS

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

Cheers to Dan Tureck, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: Essen Bakery. Its James Beard Award-nominated owner is permanently closing both of her shops and may file for bankruptcy.

Photo of the day

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “All of the power that burns in the flame / Ignites the light in a single name.”

Ahead of Patti Smith’s Horses 50th anniversary show at the Met, pop critic Dan DeLuca spoke with the punk rock icon on the ways Philadelphia and South Jersey shaped her. She will be at Marian Anderson Hall on Monday to promote her new memoir.

👋🏽 Have a good day, OK? Julie will bring you tomorrow’s news first thing in the morning. Thanks for stopping by.