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  • Election office faces toxic workplace allegations | Inquirer Chester County

    Election office faces toxic workplace allegations | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    Nearly 30 employees have left the county’s election office since 2021 amid allegations of a toxic work culture. Also this week, Lower Oxford Township officials are looking to regulate large gatherings after a shooting at Lincoln University this past fall, plus more area residents are against data centers like the one proposed in East Vincent Township.

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    Several former county election office workers allege a toxic workplace

    Nearly 30 employees have left Chester County’s election office since 2021.

    Several former Chester County election office workers have raised concerns over what they say is a hostile workplace, with one filing a grievance against its director. Another former employee believes she’s suffered from PTSD after working in the office.

    As of November, 29 employees had left the office since Karen Barsoum took over as voter services director in 2021, reports The Inquirer’s Katie Bernard. Barsoum said employees left for a number of reasons, and while she noted the departures were a challenge for the office, she helped to train staff on various positions.

    It’s unclear if the culture or turnover impacted last month’s general election, in which independent voters were omitted from county poll books.

    Turnover in election offices has gone up in recent years due to election denialism and threats, but Chesco’s departure rate is nearly twice that of Delaware and Montgomery Counties.

    Read what former employees had to say about the culture inside the office.

    📍 Countywide News

    💡 Community News

    • East Vincent Township residents have been vocal in their disapproval of a proposed data center, part of a trend among southeastern Pennsylvanians who are increasingly against data centers, according to a recent survey. The township will host a special board of supervisors meeting tonight at 7 p.m., both in-person and online, to discuss the proposed campus.
    • Lower Oxford Township officials are planning to pass new regulations around large gatherings after a fatal shooting during Lincoln University’s homecoming in October. A school administrator told supervisors at a recent meeting that Lincoln is considering steps to improve safety, like ending outside events at dusk, eliminating open invitations, and requiring guest registration.
    • Phoenixville Hospital will close its 14-bed post-acute rehabilitation center on Jan. 6 as its parent company, Tower Health, faces financial pressures. The unit helps patients with neurological disorders, orthopedic issues, or who have suffered a stroke. Its closure is expected to displace 55 employees. (Philadelphia Business Journal)
    • Two individuals died in separate incidents last week. A 48-year-old pedestrian died after being struck by a driver last Tuesday night while attempting to cross Route 202 near the Shoppes at Dilworthtown Crossing in Birmingham Township. And on Saturday, a man was found dead in an Easttown Township basement after a fire broke out in the home. Neither victim has been publicly identified. (Daily Local News)
    • Two Chester County crop farms — the 21-acre Primitive Hall Foundation in West Marlborough Township and the 59-acre Samuel and Barbara E. Townsend in West Nantmeal Township — will be preserved forever thanks to easements approved by the State Agricultural Land Preservation Board.
    • Two Coatesville organizations scored grants recently. The Coatesville Bureau of Fire is getting a $58,700 state grant that will go toward buying CPR and other equipment, and The Creative Club of Chester County plans to implement its Future Innovators project with the $47,500 it was awarded in T-Mobile’s latest Hometown Grants.
    • The owner and brewer behind popular Phoenixville kombucha brand Baba’s Brew has launched a new skincare line. A Culture Factory’s toners, masks, scrubs, and serums are made with surplus scoby, the mother culture used to start kombucha, which Olga Sorzano says are full of enzymes.
    • Heads up for drivers: Pottstown Pike will continue to have a lane closure at the Park Road intersection in Upper Uwchlan Township through Friday as PennDot repairs the inlet. The closures are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Refuse fees are set to rise next year in Downingtown from $240 to $360. The increase is due to higher costs from the borough’s contracted hauler.
    • Santa will join the Phoenixville Fire Department on Saturday as he ventures around the borough starting at 8 a.m. And Liberty Fire Company has pushed its ride with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Rudolph around Spring City and East Vincent Township to this weekend. They’ll now visit on Sunday at 11 a.m.
    • The Devon Senior Living at 445 N. Valley Forge Rd. has been renamed Juniper Village at Devon after a recent acquisition. The nearly 91,000-square-foot facility has 65 personal care apartments and 13 secured memory care apartments.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Last week, Coatesville Area School District’s school board approved a new map that it says redraws its geographic regions to better keep communities together and maintain ethnic and socio-economic balance. The approval of the four new regions comes ahead of the closure of Caln and East Fallowfield Elementary Schools at the end of this school year and the opening of the new Doe Run Elementary School.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • In search of Christmas Eve dining options? Several Chester County restaurants will be open, including Cedar Hollow Inn Restaurant & Bar in Malvern, Duling-Kurtz House Restaurant in Exton, Roots Cafe in West Chester, Sedona Taphouse, which has locations in Phoenixville and West Chester, and Ron’s Original Bar & Grille, in Exton. Prefer to dine in? Carlino’s Market in West Chester has everything from appetizers to a seven fishes feast available, while White Dog Café in Chester Springs is offering a “Christmas at Home” package with options for beef tenderloin, glazed ham, and beef lasagna. (Main Line Today)

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎅 Tinsel on the Town: The family-friendly event includes train rides, street vendors, hot chocolate, mulled wine, and visits with Santa. ⏰ Thursday, Dec. 18, 5-8 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 State Street, Kennett Square

    🩰 The Nutcracker: Catch one of five performances of the holiday favorite, performed by the Brandywine Ballet. ⏰ Friday, Dec. 19-Sunday, Dec. 21, times vary 💵 $30-$50 📍 Brandywine Ballet, West Chester

    🎄 Christmas Village: Fitzwater Station is hosting the final weekend of its first Christmas Village, which includes local vendors, food, drinks, and bonfires. Santa will make an appearance both days and be joined by Mrs. Claus on Sunday. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21, 3-7 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Fitzwater Station, Phoenixville

    ⛄ Wits and Pieces Workshop: Paint a festive ornament while sipping wines. Registration is required. ⏰ Sunday, Dec. 21, 1 p.m. 💵 $40 📍 Harvest Ridge Winery, Toughkenamon

    🏡 On the Market

    An 18th century farmhouse in Elverson

    The inside of the farmhouse is a mix of modern and historic elements.

    Built in 1770 and since expanded, this Colonial farmhouse blends modern and historic elements like stainless steel appliances with stone walls and exposed beams. The four-bedroom home has a finished walkout basement with a full bathroom, an above-ground saltwater pool, a deck, and a two-story treehouse. The 7.6-acre property is split into two parcels, which can accommodate another house. The property has a chicken coop, paddocks, and a five-stall barn.

    See more photos of the farmhouse here.

    Price: $1.45M | Size: 4,947 SF | Acreage: 7.6

    🗞️ What other Chester County residents are reading this week:

    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.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Jewish community finds ‘light in the face of darkness’ | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Jewish community finds ‘light in the face of darkness’ | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    The Jewish community is celebrating Hanukkah this week, as religious and elected leaders call for resilience in the wake of the antisemitic attack in Australia that left at least 15 people dead. Also this week, Cherry Hill received a grant for pedestrian-friendly improvements, plus a pair of township natives are teaming up to open a new restaurant.

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    The Jewish community puts forth ‘light in the face of darkness’

    Rabbi Mendel Mangel spoke Sunday during at an event celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.

    The lighting of the menorah at Barclay Farms Shopping Center on Sunday was full of symbolism, not only for the holiday, but as Jewish people came together in the wake of a deadly attack on Australians celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.

    “Light in the face of darkness is a lot of what Judaism is about,” one attendee said at the 32nd annual Hanukkah event, organized by Chabad Lubavitch of Camden County.

    Roughly 100 people gathered on the snowy evening to show their support for those injured and killed earlier that day, while leaders, including Mayor David Fleisher, called for resilience.

    “In a day like today, when there’s so much darkness, in the last year, too, and the pain and the suffering, evil, and cruelty — the message is that light can dispel all of that,” said Chabad Rabbi Mendel Mangel.

    Read more about what leaders said and the safety measures they’re taking at synagogues and community Hanukkah events as celebrations continue.

    💡 Community News

    • Santa has been making his way through the township, accompanied by the Cherry Hill Fire Department, and even snow and freezing temperatures couldn’t keep residents from running out of their homes to greet him or pose for photos. “Santa brings the spirit,” one said. The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner joined the big man recently for the beloved tradition.
    • Cherry Hill saw plenty of snow in last weekend’s first-of-the-season storm. The township’s six inches of snowfall was just shy of the reported county highs of 6.5 inches in Somerdale and the 6.3 in Ashland. Check out this map of snowfall totals to see how much snow fell around the region.
    • The township has been awarded an $800,000 grant from the state’s Safe Streets to Transit Program for fiscal 2026. The funds, awarded last week by Gov. Phil Murphy, will support pedestrian improvements along Brace and Kresson Roads. The township is already working on other roadway improvements for pedestrians. Last month, the county broke ground on a $7.5 million improvement project along Kresson Road between Browning Lane to Cropwell Road that includes upgrades to traffic signals, adding sidewalks and ADA curb ramps, and the installation of dedicated bike lanes.
    • Cherry Hill-based nonprofit Bancroft, which provides services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has named its next president and CEO. Gregory Passanante, who has held roles at Shriners Children’s Hospital Philadelphia and Wills Eye Hospital, will start on Jan. 7.
    • Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital is among New Jersey’s 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report released last week.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Science scores statewide in last year’s New Jersey Student Learning Assessments rose above pre-pandemic levels for the first time, according to an NJ.com analysis. In math and English language arts, however, scores remained below pre-pandemic testing levels. At both East and West, students scored below the state average in Algebra I. In Algebra II and Geometry, East students scored above state averages, while West students scored below. Most of the district’s elementary schools scored at or above state averages in two math categories. (NJ.com)
    • The Courier Post has identified two Cherry Hill East boys basketball players to watch this season: Chris Abreu, the “heart and soul of the Cougars,” and Jamieson Young, who made a splash during his inaugural season last year.
    • Reminder for families: Winter break begins next week with an early dismissal on Tuesday. Schools are then closed until Jan. 5. See the district’s full calendar here.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Chef Greg Vernick is teaming up with fellow Cherry Hill native Meredith Medoway to open his latest restaurant, this one in Kensington. The restaurateur behind Vernick Food & Drink, where Medoway is chef de cuisine, and Vernick Fish is planning to open Emilia in early 2026. The neighborhood trattoria will have a seasonal menu that includes house-made pasta and live-fire cooking.
    • Several Cherry Hill steakhouses are among the best South Jersey spots to find a great steak, according to the Courier Post. The outlet noted that The Capital Grille is a “classy, upscale” option, as is fellow mall restaurant Eddie V’s Prime Seafood. Steak 38 and The Pub in Pennsauken also made the list.
    • Voorhees-based Saddlehill Winery recently opened a pop-up kiosk at the Cherry Hill Mall, where it has what director of wine operations and sales Julie Pierre calls a “secondary tasting room.” It will remain open for about three more weeks. (Patch)

    🎳 Things to Do

    💰 Estates Roadshow Buying Event: Have unwanted goods you think might be valuable? Buyers will assess your goods and make offers on the spot during this five-day event. ⏰ Through Friday, Dec. 19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 💵 Free 📍DoubleTree by Hilton Cherry Hill Philadelphia

    📚 Teen Winter Lock-In: Kids in sixth through 12th grade can hang out at the library after hours, reading, playing games, and eating pizza. Registration is required. ⏰ Friday, Dec. 19, 4:30-6:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Cherry Hill Public Library

    🛍️ Curate Noir Holiday Market Pop-Up Expo: Snag last-minute holiday gifts at this two-day pop-up at the mall that features local small businesses. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 20, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 21, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍Cherry Hill Mall

    🛼 A Grinchy Christmas Skate Party: A candy cane limbo and “steal the presents” relay highlight this skate party. ⏰ Tuesday, Dec. 23, 6:30-9 p.m. 💵 $2 admission, $6 skate rental 📍Hot Wheelz

    🏡 On the Market

    A navy Cape Cod with three bedrooms

    The home has a covered porch and a fenced yard.

    This Erlton Cape Cod-style home packs a lot into a small space. The first floor has an updated kitchen with an island and a dining area adjacent to the living room, as well as a bedroom and full bathroom. There are two bedrooms and another full bathroom upstairs, and a finished basement downstairs. Outside, the home has a patio and covered porch, and there’s a fenced-in yard with two decks and an above-ground pool out back. There’s an open house Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $419,900 | Size: 1,341 SF | Acreage: 0.21

    🗞️ What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:

    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.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Meeting with an old friend | Sports Daily Newsletter

    Meeting with an old friend | Sports Daily Newsletter

    The Eagles have a chance to clinch the NFC East on Saturday night with a win against the Washington Commanders.

    This might sound like a cakewalk. The 4-10 Commanders will be without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels, who’s being shut down for the remainder of the season, which leaves former Eagles backup Marcus Mariota to get the start.

    But even with Daniels out, that doesn’t change what is arguably the biggest challenge facing the Eagles defense on Saturday: the quarterback running game.

    Only one team allows more quarterback rushing yards than the Eagles, and against Mariota, whose running and scrambling abilities have always been a big part of his game, Vic Fangio and Co. should be wary of their old friend.

    The Eagles are certainly playing with more on the line. They could become the NFC East’s first repeat champ in more than 20 years, and Jalen Hurts is focused on achieving that.

    Despite there being criticism of Hurts for his play over the last two games of the Eagles’ losing streak, the fifth-year starter doesn’t entertain it, because he’s been here before.

    This past month was a microcosm of Hurts’ football journey. Soon enough, the stakes will be as high as they’ve been all year, and Hurts will incur plenty more scrutiny, but he looks “forward to those moments” on the big stage and can handle any kind of attention that comes his way.

    — Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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    ❓What are your thoughts on the Phillies’ new outfielder? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    What we’re …

    🙌 Praising: Saquon Barkley and his foundation hosted a toy drive at a Chickie’s & Pete’s in South Philly to help families in need during the holiday season.

    🤔 Wondering: Where the Birds stand in the NFL power rankings heading into Week 16 — and it looks like not much has changed.

    🔍 Learning: The numbers that matter against the Commanders as the Eagles look to earn their second consecutive win.

    Outfield is ‘pretty well set’

    Adolis García slashed .227/.271/.394 with a 93 OPS+, and was non-tendered by the Rangers in November.

    After the Phillies signed Adolis García to a one-year, $10 million deal on Tuesday, the team’s outfield picture for 2026 is “pretty well set,” according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. García will slot in as an everyday right fielder, with Brandon Marsh in left, and Justin Crawford will get an opportunity to be the everyday center fielder.

    By committing to this configuration, the Phillies are taking a few gambles. However, it’s a familiar bet for Dombrowski, who took a similar risk on Max Kepler a year ago on another one-year, $10 million contract.

    Now, the Phillies will turn their priority to catcher and bringing back free agent J.T. Realmuto.

    Ristolainen makes season debut

    Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen made his long-awaited season debut Tuesday in Montreal.

    Rasmus Ristolainen last appeared in a Flyers game in March before undergoing right triceps tendon surgery. It’s been a long road to recovery, but the 31-year-old blueliner finally suited up and made his season debut Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens.

    Ristolainen skated alongside Nick Seeler on the third pairing. His addition helps solidify the defensive corps, with Cam York and Travis Sanheim as the top pair and Jamie Drysdale and Emil Andrae back together. He isn’t part of the power-play unit yet, but Ristolainen is just looking to get his legs under him.

    The Flyers ran away with a 4-1 at the Montreal Canadiens to snap a three-game losing streak.

    Sports snapshot

    Rick Santos takes over Penn after serving as the head coach at New Hampshire.

    David Murphy’s take

    Justin Crawford hit .334 with a .411 on-base percentage for triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2025.

    It goes like this every year, doesn’t it? Opening day arrives and a month or two later the Phillies realize they could really use one more right-handed bat and another reliever or two. Maybe this will be the year that cycle breaks. Though, the biggest potential weakness in the Phillies’ approach this offseason is the extent to which they will be counting on Justin Crawford, the leading candidate to man center field. Nobody is expecting the 22-year-old to hit like he did at triple-A Lehigh Valley, but he will need to warrant that role, or else the Phillies’ outfield situation will look a lot closer to what it did during the first half of last season, writes columnist David Murphy.

    🧠 Trivia time answer

    The Eagles earned a shutout Sunday for the first time since they blanked Washington in 2018. Who led the Eagles with six combined tackles and posted an interception in that 24-0 victory?

    B) Rasul Douglas

    What you’re saying about the defense

    Eagles linebacker Zack Baun celebrates his third-quarter interception against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

    We asked: Who is the MVP of this Eagles defense? Among your responses:

    My pick for defensive MVP thus far is Zack Baun who is at or near the top in just about every statistic including ints, tackles, solo tackles, sacks, and tackles for loss. Jalen Carter is probably the best of all the defense but with his injury he missed a few games. So sad to even think of Jerome Brown’s tragic death. Will never forget the “Bringing the Heat” team so well illustrated by Mark Bowden in his book. — Everett S.

    The MVP of this defense is the guy who’s name you rarely hear — Quinyon Mitchell. He takes the opponent’s best receiver out of action week in and week out. When the defense only has to stop 10 players instead of 11 they can operate at a much higher efficiency level. — Mike D.

    Zack Baun. — Dom R.

    Lately, the Eagles MVP on defense has been Nakobi Dean. Dean made it back from serious injury and has been a starter for most of the season. He keeps getter more prominent, making more big defensive plays each week now. Along with his all pro partner, Zack Baun, he has made the linebackers the strong core of the Eagles defense.Honorable mention to Quinyon Mitchell, who is seldom mentioned, mainly because other teams avoid his lock down coverage. — John W.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, David Murphy, Lochlahn March, Jackie Spiegel, Ariel Simpson, Sean McKeown, and Greg Finberg.

    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.

    Thanks for reading! Stay warm this week, and have a wonderful day. We’ll be back in your inbox with Thursday’s newsletter. — Bella

  • In 2026, America needs an anti-AI party | Will Bunch Newsletter

    Sometimes a terrible year can end with a moment of uplift. This actually happened in the last days of 1968, when Apollo 8 took the first humans in orbit around the moon and sent wonder back to a planet struggling with assassinations and riots. Alas, 2025 seems not such a year. A world already reeling from two mass shootings half a world apart learned Sunday night that Hollywood icon Rob Reiner and his wife Michele had been murdered in their home, allegedly by their own son. Boomers like me saw our own journey in that of Reiner — playing a young campus liberal, then taking down the pomposity of classic rock before both an unprecedented streak of classic movies and unparalleled social and political activism. He had more to give, and leaves a void that can’t truly be filled.

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    Americans fear AI and loathe its billionaires. Why do both parties suck up to them?

    Time’s 2025 person of the year are the architects of AI, depicted in this painting by Jason Seiler. The painting, with nods to the iconic 1932 “Lunch atop a Skyscraper” photograph, depicts tech leaders Mark Zuckerberg, Lisa Su, Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei, and Fei-Fei Li.

    “This is the West, sir. When the facts become legend, print the legend.” — journalist in the 1962 film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

    The top editors at Time (yes, it still exists) looked west to Silicon Valley and decided to print the legend last week when picking their Person of the Year for the tumultuous 12 months of 2025. It seemed all too fitting that its cover hailing “The Architects of AI” was the kind of artistic rip-off that’s a hallmark of artificial intelligence: 1932’s iconic newspaper shot, “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper,” “reimagined” with the billionaires — including Elon Musk and OpenAI’s Sam Altman — and lesser-known engineers behind the rapid growth of their technology in everyday life.

    Time’s writers strived to outdo the hype of AI itself, writing that these architects of artificial intelligence “reoriented government policy, altered geopolitical rivalries, and brought robots into homes. AI emerged as arguably the most consequential tool in great-power competition since the advent of nuclear weapons.”

    OK, but it’s a tool that’s clearly going to need a lot more work, or architecting, or whatever it is those folks out on the beam do. That was apparent on the same day as Time’s celebration when it was reported that Washington Post editors got a little too close to the edge when they decided they were ready to roll out an ambitious scheme for personalized, AI-driven podcasts based on factors like your personal interests or your schedule.

    The news site Semafor reported that the many gaffes ranged from minor mistakes in pronunciation to major goofs like inventing quotes — the kind of thing that would get a human journalist fired on the spot. “Never would I have imagined that the Washington Post would deliberately warp its own journalism and then push these errors out to our audience at scale,” a dismayed, unnamed editor reported.

    The same-day contrast between the Tomorrowland swooning over the promise of AI and its glitchy, real-world reality felt like a metaphor for an invention that, as Time wasn’t wrong in reporting, is so rapidly reshaping our world. Warts and all.

    Like it or not.

    And for most people (myself included), it’s mostly “or not.” The vast majority understands that it’s too late to put this 21st-century genie back in the bottle, and like any new technology there are going to be positives from AI, from performing mundane organizing tasks that free up time for actual work, to researching cures for diseases.

    But each new wave of technology — atomic power, the internet, and definitely AI — increasingly threatens more risk than reward. And it’s not just the sci-fi notion of sentient robots taking over the planet, although that is a concern. It’s everyday stuff. Schoolkids not learning to think for themselves. Corporations replacing salaried humans with machines. Sky-high electric bills and a worsening climate crisis because AI runs on data centers with an insatiable need for energy and water

    The most recent major Pew Research Center survey of Americans found that 50% of us are more concerned than excited about the growing presence of AI, while only 10% are more excited than concerned. Drill down and you’ll see that a majority believes AI will worsen humans’ ability to think creatively, and, by a whopping 50-to-5% percent margin, also believes it will worsen our ability to form relationships rather than improve it. These, by the way, are two things that weren’t going well before AI.

    So naturally our political leaders are racing to see who can place the tightest curbs on artificial intelligence and thus carry out the will of the peop…ha, you did know this time that I was kidding, didn’t you?

    It’s no secret that Donald Trump and his regime were in the tank from Day One for those folks out on Time’s steel beam, and not just Musk, who — and this feels like it was seven years ago — donated a whopping $144 million to the Republican’s 2024 campaign. Just last week, the president signed an executive order aiming to press the full weight of the federal government, including Justice Department lawsuits and regulatory actions, against any state that dares to regulate AI. He said that’s necessary to ensure U.S. “global AI dominance.”

    This is a problem when his constituents clearly want AI to be regulated. But it’s just as big a problem — perhaps bigger — that the opposition party isn’t offering much opposition. Democrats seem just as awed by the billionaire grand poobahs of AI as Trump. Or the editors of Time.

    Also last week, New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul — leader of the second-largest blue state, and seeking reelection in 2026 — used her gubernatorial pen to gut the more-stringent AI regulations that were sent to her desk by state lawmakers. Watchdogs said Hochul replaced the hardest-hitting rules with language drafted by lobbyists for Big Tech.

    As the American Prospect noted, Hochul’s pro-Silicon Valley maneuvers came after her campaign coffers were boosted by fundraisers held by venture capitalist Ron Conway, who has been seeking a veto, and the industry group Tech:NYC, which wants the bill watered down.

    It was a similar story in the biggest blue state, California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2024 vetoed the first effort by state lawmakers to impose tough regulations on AI, and where a second measure did pass but only after substantial input from lobbyists for OpenAI and other tech firms. Silicon Valley billionaires raised $5 million to help Newsom — a 2028 White House front-runner — beat back a 2021 recall.

    Like other top Democrats, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro favors some light regulation for AI but is generally a booster, insisting the new technology is a “job enhancer, not a job replacer.” He’s all-in on the Keystone State building massive data centers, despite their tendency to drive up electric bills and their unpopularity in the communities where they are proposed.

    Money talks, democracy walks — an appalling fact of life in 2025 America. In a functioning democracy, we would have at least one political party that would fly the banner of the 53% of us who are wary of unchecked AI, and even take that idea to the next level.

    A Harris Poll found that, for the first time, a majority of Americans also see billionaires — many of them fueled by the AI bubble — as a threat to democracy, with 71% supporting a wealth tax. Yet few of the Democrats hoping to retake Congress in 2027 are advocating such a levy. This is a dangerous disconnect.

    Time magazine got one thing right. Just as its editors understood in 1938 that Adolf Hitler was its Man of the Year because he’d influenced the world more than anyone else, albeit for evil, history will likely look back at 2025 and agree that AI posed an even bigger threat to humanity than Trump’s brand of fascism. The fight to save the American Experiment must be fought on both fronts.

    Yo, do this!

    • I haven’t tackled much new culture this month because I’ve been doing something I so rarely do anymore: Watching a scripted series from start to finish. That would be Apple TV’s Pluribus, the new sci-fi-but-more-than-sci-fi drama from television genius Vince Gilligan. True, one has to look past some logistical flaws in its dystopia-of-global-happiness premise, but the core narrative about the fight for individualism is truly a story of our time. The last two episodes come out on Dec. 19 and Dec. 26, so there’s time to catch up!
    • The shock and sorrow of Rob Reiner’s murder at age 78 has, not surprisingly, sparked a surge of interest in his remarkable, and remarkably diverse, canon of classic movies. His much-awaited sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues began streaming on HBO Max just two days before his death. Check it out, or just re-watch the 1984 original, which is one of the funniest flicks ever made, and which is also streaming on HBO Max and can be rented on other popular sites. Crank it up to 11.

    Ask me anything

    Question: What news value, not advertising value, is accomplished by publicizing every one of Trump’s insane rantings daily? — @bizbodeity.bsky.social via Bluesky

    Answer: This is a great question, and the most recent and blatant example which I assume inspired it — Trump’s stunningly heartless online attack against a critic, Hollywood icon Rob Reiner, just hours after his violent murder — proves why this is a painful dilemma for journalists. I’d argue that Trump’s hateful and pathologically narcissistic post was a deliberate troll for media attention, to make every national moment about him. In a perfect world, it would indeed be ignored. But it was highly newsworthy that his Truth Social post was so offensive that it drew unusual criticism from Republicans, Evangelicals, and other normal supporters. We may remember this is as a political turning point. Trump’s outbursts demand sensitivity, but that Americans elected such a grotesque man as our president can’t easily be ignored.

    What you’re saying about…

    It’s been two weeks since I asked about Donald Trump’s health, but the questions have not gone away. There was not a robust response from readers — probably because I’d posed basically the same question once before. Several of you pointed to expert commentary that suggests the president is experiencing significant cognitive decline, perhaps suffering from frontotemporal dementia. Roberta Jacobs Meadway spoke for many when she lambasted “the refusal if not the utter failure of the once-major news outlets to ask the questions and push for answers.”

    📮 This week’s question: We are going to try an open-ended one to wrap up 2025: What is your big prediction for 2026 — could be anything from elections to impeachment to the Eagles repeating as Super Bowl champs — and why. Please email me your answer and put the exact phrase “2026 prediction” in the subject line.

    Backstory on how I covered an unforgettable year

    Rick Gomez, who travelled 65 hours by bus from Phoenix, Ariz., holds an AI photo composite poster of Donald Trump, in Washington, the day before Trump took the Oath of Office to become the 47th president of the United States.

    Barring the outbreak of World War III — something you always need to say these days — this is my final newsletter, or column, of 2025, as I use up my old-man plethora of vacation days. To look back on America’s annus horribilis, I thought I’d revive a feature from my Attytood blogging days: a recap of the year with the five most memorable columns, not numbered in order of significance. Here goes:

    1. A year that many of us dreaded when the votes were counted in November 2024 began for me with a sad reminder that the personal still trumps the political, when my 88-year-old father fell ill in the dead of winter and passed away on March 11. I wrote about his life, but also what his passion for science and knowledge said about a world that, at the end of his life, was slipping away: Bryan H. Bunch (1936-2025) and the vanishing American century of knowledge.
    2. Still, Donald J. Trump could not be ignored. On Jan. 19, I put on my most comfortable shoes (it didn’t really help) and traipsed around a snowy, chilly Washington, D.C. as the about-to-be 47th president made his “forgotten American” supporters wait on a soggy, endless line for a nothingburger rally while the architects of AI and other rich donors partied in heated luxury, setting the tone for a year of gross inequality: American oligarchy begins as Trump makes billions while MAGA gets left out in the rain.
    3. One of the year’s biggest stories was Trump’s demonizing of people of color, from calling Somali immigrants “garbage” to his all out war on DEI programs that encouraged racial diversity, when the truth was always far different. In February, I wrote about the American dream of a young man from Brooklyn of Puerto Rican descent and his ambition to become an airline pilot, who perished in the D.C. jet-helicopter crash. His remarkable life demolished the MAGA lie about “DEI pilots.” Read: “Short, remarkable life of D.C. pilot Jonathan Campos so much more than Trump’s hateful words.”
    4. If you grew up during the 1960s and ‘70s, as I did, then you understand the story of our lifetimes as a battle for the individual rights of every American — for people to live their best lives regardless of race or gender, or whether they might be transgender, or on the autism spectrum. I wrote in October about the Trump regime’s consuming drive to reverse this, to make it a crime to be different: From autism to beards, the Trump regime wages war on ‘the different’
    5. A grim year did end on one hopeful note. Trump’s push for an authoritarian America is faltering, thanks in good measure to the gumption of everyday people. This month, I traveled to New Orleans to chronicle the growing and increasingly brave public resistance to federal immigration raids, as citizens blow whistles, form crowds and protest efforts to deport hard-working migrants: In New Orleans and across U.S., anger over ICE raids sparks a 2nd American Revolution

    What I wrote on this date in 2021

    On this date four years ago, some of us were still treating Donald Trump’s attempted Capitol Hill coup of Jan. 6, 2021 like a crime that could be solved so that the bad guys could be put away. On Dec. 16, 2021, I published my own theory of the case: that Team MAGA’s true goal was provoking a war between its supporters and left-wing counterdemonstrators, as a pretext for sending in troops and stopping Congress from finishing its certification of Joe Biden’s victory. That didn’t happen because the leftists stayed home. More than 1,000 pardons later, check out my grand argument: “A theory: How Trump’s Jan. 6 coup plan worked, how close it came, why it failed.”

    Recommended Inquirer reading

    • Only one column this week, as this senior citizen was still recovering from that grueling trip to New Orleans. On Sunday, I reacted with the shock and sadness of seeing a mass shooting at my alma mater, Brown University. I wrote that in a nation with 500 million guns, it’s a virtual lock that some day our families — nuclear or extended, like the close-knit Brown community — will be struck by senseless violence. And I took sharp issue with Trump’s comment that “all you can do is pray.” There is much that can and should be done about gun safety.
    • Sometimes the big stories are the ones that play out over decades, not days. When I first started coming regularly to Philadelphia at the end of the 1980s, the dominant vibe was urban decline. The comeback of cities in the 21st century has altered our world, for good — but a lot of us old-timers have wondered: Just who, exactly, is moving into all these new apartments from Center City to Kensington and beyond? Last week, The Inquirer’s ace development reporter Jake Blumgart took a deep dive into exactly that — highlighting survey results that large numbers are under 45, don’t own a car, and moved here from elsewhere, and telling some of their stories. Local journalism is the backbone of a local community, and you are part of something bigger when you subscribe to The Inquirer. Plus, it’s a great Christmas gift, and you’ll get to read all my columns in 2026. 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.

  • Gang Green II? | Sports Daily Newsletter

    Gang Green II? | Sports Daily Newsletter

    What’s the best chance for the Eagles to reach the Super Bowl and repeat as champions? Given the hit-or-miss performance by the offense this season, maybe it’s time for their dominant defense to seize the moment.

    In 1991, an overpowering Eagles defense did just that after Randall Cunningham was lost for the season in the first game. Led by Reggie White and Jerome Brown, the Birds put together one of the best defensive campaigns in NFL history, surrendering the fewest passing yards and rushing yards in the league that season. Not only did the Eagles want to keep opponents from scoring, the defensive players wanted to score themselves.

    “We knew that we were going to go as far as the defense could carry us,” linebacker Seth Joyner says. “And that just turned the intensity up.”

    Joyner sees some of that great fire in Vic Fangio’s defense these days. So do former teammates Clyde Simmons and Mike Golic. The three ex-Eagles can see Fangio’s group taking charge this season the way they did under defensive coordinator Bud Carson in ’91.

    So which member of the current Eagles D would have fit right in on Gang Green? They say it’s Jalen Carter. “I mean, put him on that line, with Jerome [Brown] in the middle, would have been ridiculous,” Golic says.

    Alex Coffey has the story.

    — Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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

    ❓Who is the MVP of this Eagles defense? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    The new Castellanos

    Nick Castellanos, left, is on the way out as the Phillies’ right fielder, and Adolis García is in with a one-year deal.

    Adolis García is the new Nick Castellanos. That’s the simplest way to look at the Phillies agreeing to a one-year, $10 million contract with the former Rangers star on Monday. It’s true on a lot of different levels, including some that will make you scratch your head about why Dave Dombrowski decided to go in this direction. Not only is García likely to replace Castellanos in right field, his batting profile looks an awful lot like Castellanos’. Uncomfortably so, writes David Murphy.

    The Phillies’ agreement with García comes 361 days after an identical one-year, $10 million free-agent deal with outfielder Max Kepler. It represents a similar bet, too.

    Not exactly in command

    Dan Quinn and the injury-riddled Commanders have headed in the wrong direction since facing the Eagles in the 2024 NFC championship game on Jan. 26.

    At 4-10, the Washington Commanders are not as sad as the Las Vegas Raiders, but they’re not far from the bottom of the NFL’s barrel. The Commanders ended an eight-game losing streak on Sunday thanks to a date with the even-worse New York Giants.

    Good news for the Eagles, who will visit the Commanders on Saturday: Washington allows a league-worst 7.5 yards per passing attempt and a sixth-worst 4.7 yards per carry. So the offense should continue to thrive against lousy competition. Washington’s offense hasn’t been setting the world on fire, either. Olivia Reiner has her early look at Saturday’s matchup.

    With one more Eagles win or Cowboys loss, the Birds would clinch the NFC East and become the division’s first back-to-back champions since the 2004 Eagles.

    One thing is for sure: A rushing-focused offense, with Jalen Hurts back in a running role, is a winning formula for the Birds, Jeff McLane writes.

    Back to his old self

    Sixers forward Paul George looks like he is returning to form after two stellar performances, including a 35-point season high in Atlanta.

    Paul George was called the worst free-agent signing in franchise history. He was going to set the Sixers back a decade. He was washed up and untradable. You sure about that?

    Finally healthy after a litany of injuries ruined his 2024-25 season, George appears to be finding his rhythm and changing the narrative that has surrounded his Sixers tenure. Ask the main himself and he’ll tell you just how bad last season was from his own vantage point.

    “Oh, my God. I mean, it was rough, man,” he said of last season. “It was brutal. And when you play for Philly, it’s brutal, man. I had an expectation coming into the year, and for me, me alone, like not even the noise outside and whatever people said, you know?”

    Bright spots

    Trevor Zegras scored for the third game running, scoring the equalizer with a few minutes left in regulation on Sunday.

    The Flyers weren’t at their best on Sunday evening, but they still managed to salvage a valuable point against the Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes.

    How did they do it? Jackie Spiegel’s takeaways focus on two players who helped the Flyers force overtime in Raleigh, N.C.

    Sports snapshot

    Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels reinjured his elbow in a loss to the Vikings last week.

    🧠 Trivia time

    The Eagles earned a shutout Sunday for the first time since they blanked Washington in 2018. Who led the Eagles with six combined tackles and posted an interception in that 24-0 victory? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

    A) Brandon Graham

    B) Rasul Douglas

    C) Malcolm Jenkins

    D) Avonte Maddox

    Who said it?

    The Eagles defense sacked Kenny Pickett four times on Sunday.

    Who said this after the Eagles pitched a shutout against the Raiders? Think you know? Check your answer here.

    What you’re saying about old athletes

    We asked: What’s the greatest performance you can remember by an “aged” athlete? Among your responses:

    Chuck Bednarik’s performance in the 1960 NFL championship game playing both linebacker and center at age 35. — Dom R.

    Gene Dykes, Bala Cynwyd, ran a world best marathon time for men 70 and over. … By the age of 60 most have lost over half the muscle fibers in your legs. His accomplishment is far beyond anyone else including Brandon, Wilt, Bednarik, and Schmidt. — Harry N.

    Editor’s note: Dykes set a record for his age group in 2:54:23 at the Jacksonville (Fla.) Marathon in December 2018.

    Eagles Norm Van Brocklin (center) and Chuck Bednarik celebrate after they won the NFL championship in 1960.

    The first thing that came to my mind regarding a performance by an aged athlete was 35-year-old Chuck Bednarik, former Penn All-American and WW2 Vet, who played the entire 1960 NFL championship game at Franklin Field. Chuck played every minute of this game while holding down the center position as well as linebacker. — Everett S.

    Jurgensen to McDonald, Norm Van Brocklin and Concrete Charlie ‘s performance in the 1960 NFL Championship game … — Bill M.

    Roger Bannister’s mile! — Hunter L.

    Editor’s note: Bannister was 25 when he broke the four-minute mile on May 6, 1954.

    In my opinion, Jack Nicklaus winning the masters in 1986 at the age of 46! — William M.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Alex Coffey, Scott Lauber, David Murphy, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Jeff McLane, Ariel Simpson, Jackie Spiegel, Mike Sielski, and Keith Pompey.

    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.

    Greetings from Siberia, also known as the Philadelphia suburbs. Do your best to stay warm. Bella will bring you Sports Daily on Wednesday. — Jim

  • Why hasn’t Trump sent troops to Philly? | Morning Newsletter

    President Donald Trump makes his first stop on an “economic tour,” in Mt. Pocono, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.

    Welcome to a new week, Philly.

    Some have been wondering, why hasn’t President Donald Trump sent troops to Philadelphia, the city where “bad things happen?” Especially when troops are in smaller, less prominent cities. Nobody knows for sure, but The Inquirer has some theories.

    And last year, SEPTA promised solar-powered screens at bus stops that would give riders real-time info. With the initiative stalled, an anonymous street sign artist is filling the void — with their own real-time tracker.

    — Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

    ‘We also need to be ready’

    A dancing President Donald Trump after he made his first stop on an “economic tour,” in Mt. Pocono, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.

    In the last six months Trump has sent troops, immigration agents, or both to Democratic cities from coast to coast. The list includes Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, Memphis, Portland, Ore., Charlotte, N.C., New Orleans, and Minneapolis. But not Philadelphia.

    The city that seemed an obvious early target, condemned by Trump as the place where “bad things happen,” has somehow escaped his wrath. At least so far.

    That has sparked speculation from City Hall to Washington over why the president would ignore the staunchly Democratic city with which he has famously feuded. We offer some insight into whether that’s likely to change.

    🚍 Where did my bus go?

    The digital real-time bus tracker that has been installed at the Route 64 bus stop on the northeast corner of Broad Street and Washington Avenue in Philadelphia on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.

    While waiting for a bus earlier this year, two Philadelphia street artists who rely on public transportation diagnosed an all-too-familiar ailment: I have no idea when the bus will be here.

    Earlier this month, their brainchild — a solar-powered e-reader mounted into a street sign that provides bus arrival information — went live on the northeast corner of Broad Street and Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia, along bus Route 64.

    The device pulls real-time arrival times from publicly available data (the same dataset that feeds SEPTA’s app), according to artist Make It Weird, who engineered the rig and asked to remain anonymous because their work meanders into a legal gray area.

    What you should know today

    • As Jews around the world celebrate Hanukkah, a deadly attack in Australia has shocked Jewish communities in the Philadelphia region, leading some to increase security at services.
    • An upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the legality of the sweeping tariffs that President Donald Trump rolled out in April — briefly sending markets worldwide into a tailspin — could be the next test for stocks that have been flying high.
    • An American Airlines flight attendant who works out of the Philadelphia International Airport is suing the airline, alleging that flight attendants aren’t properly paid.
    • When it comes to funding his presidential library, former President Joe Biden is far behind on funds, the New York Times reported.
    • FIFA opened the lottery for its latest ticket presale on Thursday. It showed tickets, priced in the hundreds, for all 72 group-stage matches, including the five headed to Philly.
    • From data centers to casinos, one of Philly’s most successful investors, Ira Lubert, says he’ll give until he’s dead — and after.

    Quote of the day

    Former President Joe Biden supports the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

    Former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden touched down at the Linc for the snowy Sunday matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Las Vegas Raiders. Joe and “that girl from Philly,” Jill, were spotted on the sidelines with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie before the 1 p.m. kickoff.

    🧠 Trivia time

    With roots stretching back 170 years, this nonprofit was originally founded to serve the Jewish population but has since expanded to offer a range of services to all.

    A) Jewish Family and Children’s Service

    B) United Hebrew Charities

    C) Jewish Foster Home

    D) Abramson Senior Care

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re…

    🏈 Thinking about: We took a look at the current playoff picture for the Eagles and the rest of the NFL.

    🥃 Drinking: The 14 best whiskeys you can get this holiday season, according to Craig LaBan.

    🍫 Craving: A weekend away filled with chocolate, adventure, and festivities in Hershey, Pa.

    🏡 Impressed by: A woman searched just four blocks for her dream home in Brewerytown and found it.

    👀 Checking out: Little Horse Tavern, a new restaurant at a revived West Philly golf course.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: Gov. Josh Shapiro gives an annual speech at this glitzy dinner in midtown Manhattan. This year marked his 15th appearance.

    ANNOYANCES PITY VEILS

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

    Cheers to Jason Wermers, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Coatesville. The area school district will soon see a swath of changes as it prepares to shutter two elementary schools, open a new one, and realign its attendance boundaries.

    Photo of the day

    A pedestrian walks along the Race Street Pier as snow falls on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025.

    ❄️ Philadelphians awoke to the first significant snowfall of the season on Sunday, with 3 to 7 inches of snow blanketing the area.

    📬 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 Joe Morris, who describes classroom shenanigans in the early days of the Community College of Philadelphia:

    The Community College of Philadelphia admitted its first class in September 1965, just a year after community colleges received Pennsylvania legislative approval in 1964. The school took over the former Snellenburg’s department store in Center City.

    One of the best classes was Mr. Beck’s History of Western Civilization class. Beck was the most nattily dressed of all the professors and was both captivating and unshakeable. Fifty minutes with him passed rapidly, and his lectures ended precisely as the bell rung. I bet my buddy Frank that I could rattle Beck out of his unflappable persona. During the last class of my first semester, as Beck was taking questions on the material, I asked, “Mr. Beck, where do you purchase your ties?” Beck didn’t flinch: “Given the breadth of material we’ve covered, I’m disappointed that you don’t have an interest in something other than my haberdasher.”

    I doubled my bet with Frank, thinking I might shake him during the next semester. I sat in the back row directly underneath three very tall windows, with a small ledge on the outside. Before class, I closed the blinds on either side of the center window and opened the center blind to full height. I clutched my books and hoisted myself out onto the ledge and moved carefully behind the closed blinds. Beck entered and began his lecture. A couple of minutes in, I made my way along the ledge, prompting stares and pointing from the pedestrians below, then, once in the open center window, stepped down into the classroom and took my seat.

    I believed Beck paused slightly and I whispered to Frank, “You owe me $10.” Frank maintained that it was merely Beck’s typical pause to emphasize a fact. Atypically, Beck ended class a few seconds early, then said, “Mr. Morris, might you stop by to see me after class?”

    Confident that I had shaken him and expecting a reprimand for ledge lingering, I approached his desk and nonchalantly said, “Mr. Beck, I believe you wanted to see me?” He replied, “Yes, could you make more of an effort to be on time for class?” Frank smirked and put out his hand for the 10 bucks.

    Thanks for starting your week with The Inquirer. I’ll be back with you 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.

  • The old man and the D | Sports Daily Newsletter

    The old man and the D | Sports Daily Newsletter

    Here’s how downright dominant the Eagles were Sunday at frigid Lincoln Financial Field: They held the punchless Las Vegas Raiders to 75 yards of offense. Saquon Barkley had more than that in rushing yardage by himself.

    The Eagles posted their first shutout in almost seven years in a 31-0 victory. The Raiders averaged just 1.8 yards on their 42 offensive plays. They did not advance the ball past the Eagles’ 33-yard line. That’s dominance.

    At the center of the defensive effort, often literally, was Brandon Graham, a 37-year-old guy who was retired two months ago. Graham became the oldest Eagles player to register a sack, and he picked up another in the game for good measure. With Jalen Carter sidelined, the longtime defensive end has filled in at tackle, and Graham is starting to get to the quarterback.

    “I’m happy to be able to come back” Graham says, “because I feel like we can make another run.”

    The Eagles victory snapped a three-game losing streak. Granted, the blowout win came against what could be the worst team in the NFL, but the defense came up huge across all positions, from the line to the linebackers to the secondary. Jeff McLane has his grades on the game.

    The performance offered a glimpse of what might yet be the Eagles’ saving grace in their quest to win a second straight Super Bowl, Mike Sielski writes. As ragged and inconsistent as their offense has been, their defense is good enough to get them there.

    More coverage from the convincing Eagles win can be found here.

    — Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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

    ❓What’s the greatest performance you can remember by an “aged” athlete? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    Missing Maxey

    Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels dunks as he is guarded by Sixers center Joel Embiid.

    Tyrese Maxey missed his second game in a row with an illness Sunday as the Sixers visited the Atlanta Hawks, and the team could not make up for the loss of its star guard. Paul George scored a season-high 35 points, but Atlanta prevailed, 120-117, behind 27 points from Dyson Daniels and 20 from Onyeka Okongwu. Joel Embiid had 22 points and 14 rebounds.

    “We’re super concerned,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said of Maxey’s illness. “We’re concerned because he’s sick, and he wasn’t well enough to get on the floor here for a couple of games.”

    Stopped in a shootout again

    Owen Tippett (74) of the Flyers sends the puck down the ice ahead of Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers during the second period Sunday.

    The Flyers had not lost a shootout this season until the Carolina Hurricanes beat them, 4-3, Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    They faced the same team Sunday in Raleigh, N.C., and the result was nearly identical. Andrei Svechnikov scored the winner in the shootout as Carolina prevailed, 3-2. Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras scored in regulation for the Flyers, who lost their third straight but extended their point streak to four games.

    Defenseman Cam York returned to the lineup for the Flyers on Sunday after missing four games with an upper body injury. Coach Rick Tocchet said York’s return goes a long way toward stabilizing the defense: “It’s huge.”

    Wildcats strike again

    Villanova’s Ja’briel Mace rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown in an upset of Tarleton State in the FCS quarterfinals.

    Villanova advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals for the first time since 2010 with a 26-21 comeback victory over Tarleton State on Saturday in Stephenville, Texas. Next up for the Wildcats is a home game this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against Illinois State.

    The new coach at Penn will be former New Hampshire coach and standout quarterback Rick Santos, the Quakers announced.

    Marcus Hayes’ take

    Jalen Hurts is all smiles as he congratulates tight end Dallas Goedert on his first-quarter touchdown catch against the Raiders.

    After Jalen Hurts had five turnovers in a Monday Night Football loss at the Chargers, Nick Sirianni was asked whether the QB should be benched if he continued to struggle. “I think that’s ridiculous,” the Eagles coach said.

    The question wasn’t ridiculous. It was legitimate. It sure seems ridiculous now. Hurts rebounded from the worst game of his career with one of his best against the Raiders. He completed 12 of 15 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns.

    Hurts needs to run. Saquon Barkley needs to run. Dallas Goedert needs the ball. This is a successful formula for the Eagles, and if A.J. Brown gets some looks, great. If not, live with it.

    Sports snapshot

    From left: Top prospects Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter, and Aidan Miller should all be contributors to the Phillies in 2026.

    On this date

    Cliff Lee pitching for the Phillies in 2009.

    Dec. 15, 2010: Left-hander Cliff Lee agreed to a five-year, $120 million contract to return to the Phillies. The team had traded Lee to the Seattle Mariners one year earlier. He wound up going 48-34 with a 2.94 ERA in his two stints with the Phillies.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Gabriela Carroll, Marcus Hayes, Mike Sielski, Jeff McLane, Jackie Spiegel, Keith Pompey, Scott Lauber, Jonathan Tannenwald, Katie Lewis, and Sean McKeown.

    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.

    Here’s hoping you have dug yourself out by now. Thank you for reading. Stay warm and I’ll see you in Tuesday’s newsletter. — Jim

  • A bumpy road for Atlantic City | Morning Newsletter

    A bumpy road for Atlantic City | Morning Newsletter

    Welcome to Sunday.

    By the time you’re reading this, it has likely snowed overnight. The National Weather Service issued a warning overnight for 3 to 5 inches, with 6 or more possible across the region. Check Inquirer.com for the latest.

    Our top story highlights Atlantic City’s struggles as it tries to close the door on 2025.

    Further on, go inside the FBI’s hunt for a ring of bandits who allegedly tried to rob five armored trucks over the summer.

    — Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

    Shore town in trouble

    Between the looming threat of New York casinos moving in and a fire at Peanut World, it’s been a rough year for Atlantic City.

    And just as business owners and residents alike are ready to turn over a new leaf, a new plot twist has emerged: Marty Small Sr., the newly reelected mayor, is on trial for what he described a “private family problem.” Small is accused of allegedly physically abusing his teenage daughter.

    The site of historic mayoral misdeeds, multimillionaire overreach, and chronic unwanted attention is ending 2025 in crisis, and more worries are brewing.

    Can A.C. come out of this unscathed? Amy Rosenberg has the story on the myriad problems the resort faces entering 2026.

    In other Shore news:

    🌊 Eroded beaches could soon get federal money for replenishment. Will it be enough?

    🎡 Ocean City Mayor Jay A. Gillian was hit with a civil suit saying he owes nearly $600,000 for an unpaid debt related to Gillian’s Wonderland Pier.

    💰 Atlantic City wind turbines were once opposed by residents. Two decades later, officials estimate they have saved $8.8 million.

    How the hunt happened

    Old-school detective work. High-tech surveillance. An anonymous tip. And seemingly unrelated probe into car thefts.

    These elements and more helped investigators piece together a case against a crew that allegedly executed two robberies of armored trucks over the course of six days this summer in Philadelphia.

    Caught in the mix of records is a text message that came from a West Philly man now playing in the NFL, referencing a news story about the heists.

    Investigative reporter David Gambacorta details how officials worked to identify, track, and ultimately arrest members of the robbery ring.

    What you should know today

    • At least two people were killed and several more injured in a shooting in the area of Brown University in Rhode Island on Saturday, a law enforcement official said, as the Ivy League school issued an active shooter alert and urged students and staff to take shelter.
    • A Philly charter awarded a big contract to a board member’s friend, then punished the official who reported it, according to a lawsuit.
    • Candidates running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans spent a busy weekend in New York trying to woo donors and supporters, as Pennsylvania’s political elite gathered in Manhattan for the annual Pennsylvania Society dinner — and a parade of related events.
    • A South Jersey man was charged with impersonating law enforcement after he showed up at a police investigation claiming to work for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
    • Approximately 3.4 million state agency letters intended for Pennsylvania residents — including some detailing whether they are eligible for health benefits or food assistance, or need to renew them — were not delivered to residents from Nov. 3 through Dec. 3, officials said Friday.
    • Julianne Murray, President Donald Trump’s U.S. attorney in Delaware, abruptly resigned Friday. She is the latest Trump-appointed federal prosecutor whose appointment has drawn scrutiny.
    • Off-duty Jefferson nurses performed CPR on a man who fell ill during a music performance at a Philly venue this week. It’s not the first time in recent memory that hospital staff helped save a customer’s life at the club.
    • Two local bookstores are among eight in Pennsylvania to win a $500 grant from award-winning author James Patterson’s annual Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program.
    • A Texas-style country outlaw-themed bar meets secondhand store — deep in the heart of Fishtown.
    • A couple in York claim to have the best-lit Christmas tree in all of Pennsylvania. They shared tips to make yours second best.

    ❓Pop quiz

    This week brought some conversation regarding the fate of the Rocky statue located at the top of the Philadelphia Art Museum’s steps (for now, it’s not moving). In total, how many official Rocky statues are in Philly?

    A) one

    B) four

    C) three

    D) two

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

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: City in Chester County

    LOCATE ELVIS

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

    Cheers to Peter DiMaio, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Elkins Estate. The Gilded Age estate and wedding venue in Montco is adding a boutique event space and distillery.

    Photo of the day

    Russell Edling, a musician who goes by the moniker Golden Apples, in his art supply store, Freehand, in Fishtown.

    🎶 Today’s song sounds like: “Free, I want to be / Tell them all get out from under me.” I’m enjoying Golden Apples’ Shooting Star record. Here’s how Russell Edling, the man behind the music, enjoys his perfect day in Philadelphia.

    One more musical thing: The most acclaimed Philly act of 2025 is a band called They Are Gutting a Body of Water. Pop critic Dan DeLuca spoke with its frontman on why he loves Philadelphia, and Philadelphia music.

    👋🏽 Thanks, as always, for spending part of your morning with us. Stay warm, and take care.

  • 🚇 Stand clear of SEPTA faux pas | Morning Newsletter

    🚇 Stand clear of SEPTA faux pas | Morning Newsletter

    Good morning.

    The first measurable snowfall of the winter seems a certainty this weekend with about 3 inches expected in the region.

    Today, we’re discussing train etiquette when it comes to playing music loudly.

    But first, let’s go over the latest broadside against the board of the Philadelphia Art Museum by ousted director and CEO Sasha Suda, what we know about Philly’s first-ever New Year’s Eve outdoor concert, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

    — Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

    What you should know today

    Etiquette on the El

    It happens every so often, even in the quiet car: I get on the train, and somebody’s loudspeaker starts blaring music or even TikTok videos. A quick look around, and a shared discomfort is obvious on other riders’ faces. What do you do in this situation? Do you speak up, or suffer on your morning commute?

    To answer this reader question, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss recruited reporters Beatrice Forman and Henry Savage. Their chat touched on whether there is a “right way” to ask someone to quit blasting their playlist or other disruptive behaviors like smoking.

    Forman shared a solution-oriented anecdote: “I was recently on the BSL home from an assignment in South Philly around the time classes let out, and this kid was blasting Kendrick Lamar loud enough for all the train car to hear, so I ended up politely offering him a pair of corded earbuds to use to see if he’d take the hint.”

    Personally, I opt for drowning it out with my own music — in my headphones, of course. But I’ve definitely been stuck on SEPTA without that option because said headphones also run out of battery.

    Read along for my colleagues’ full verdict. And if you have a pressing question you need advice on, we’re all ears. Send it in here.

    One viewpoint

    Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s H.O.M.E. initiative — a $2 billion proposal to build or restore 30,000 homes across the city — has proved to be a sticking point between Parker’s administration and City Hall. On Wednesday, City Council voted against Parker’s vision.

    In the latest edition of “Shackamaxon,” Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks the mayor’s housing plan and more.

    📍 Find the location

    Somewhere in Philly, there’s a bright yellow pop-art inspired sculpture that reads “OY/YO” (depending on your vantage point).

    Where is it?

    A) City Hall

    B) Independence Mall

    C) Penn’s Landing

    D) None of the above

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

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: Gilded Age property in Montco

    LEAKIEST NEST

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

    Cheers to Ken Schwartz, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Baby KJ. The Philadelphia-area infant, who made international headlines this year after a successful gene-editing treatment at CHOP, has been named by Nature as one of 10 people who helped shape medicine in 2025.

    We were there

    This is Olga Sorzano, owner of Baba’s Brew of Phoenixville, holding a scoby.

    Sorzano’s kombucha company generates large amounts of scoby, the mother culture used as a kombucha starter, so she found a new way to use leftover supply: in skincare products.

    Food writer Kiki Aranita and photographer Alejandro A. Alvarez went inside the brewing room to learn how the fermenter transforms her bubbly brew into toners, masks, and more.

    Somewhere on the internet in Philly

    Redditors are nostalgic for these SEPTA bus designs from the ’80s.

    Jake Beckman, “the Eagles guy” for FanSided and a stand-up comic, shared a video of what appears to be a police officer conducting a wellness check on Monday night. Their exchange says it all: “The Eagles lost.” “I know.” I wonder how Beckman feels about the positivity bunny.

    And another passionate Birds fan is keeping the holiday spirit alive by belting out a Jalen Hurts serenade to the tune of “All I Want for Christmas is You” — at 3 in the morning, no less.

    👋🏽 That’s it for now. Let’s catch up again tomorrow.

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

  • 📦 Packages in peril | Morning Newsletter

    📦 Packages in peril | Morning Newsletter

    It’s Friday, Philly.

    Good news for snow lovers: Forecasters say the city could see its first measurable amount of the season over the weekend.

    So-called porch pirates continue to strike in the city and beyond. Our top story is an Inquirer analysis that shows how package theft reports have stacked up this year.

    Farther down, hear how a chain restaurant and longtime Sixers hangout transformed into one of Philadelphia’s hottest “clubs.”

    Scroll along for these stories and more to start your weekend.

    — Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

    Beware the thieves

    Porch pirates are expected to be particularly active as gifts and other goodies pile up outside your house this month.

    With this in mind, we looked into Philadelphia Police Department data to gauge the severity of the problem.

    📦 Reported thefts are up 6% from January to November, compared with the same time period last year, according to an Inquirer analysis of police data.

    📦 Reports spike every December, coinciding with a flurry of purchases over the holidays. Still, some incidents go unreported to law enforcement. These factors can make it difficult to project end-of-year totals.

    📦 The crime goes beyond Philly, as suburban residents frequently vent about the issue on local Facebook groups.

    Consumer reporter Erin McCarthy and graphics editor John Duchneskie explain their calculations, and share best practices to protect against porch piracy-related headaches this holiday season.

    What you should know today

    ‘Club Fridays’

    Hours-long wait times. Fans lined up around the block. Patrons dressed to the nines.

    You’d think these excited partygoers were posted up for a Center City club, but we’re talking about the TGI Fridays on City Avenue.

    Over the years, the chain restaurant was incorporated into the city’s nightlife scene with the help of Sixers legends like Allen Iverson, who transformed the spot into a destination.

    It was the team’s unofficial hangout due to its proximity to where the Sixers practiced. But everything changed when Iverson, a rookie at the time, came to town.

    Features sportswriter Alex Coffey has the story.

    Plus: What happens if one of the 109 flags lining the Parkway is damaged?

    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 Nate File on how the city maintains the 109 flags that line the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which were first installed in 1976 as part of the United States’ Bicentennial celebration.

    The city’s department of public property aims to replace them twice a year, or as needed when a flag gets damaged. 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

    The average commute in Philly takes longer than in most large U.S. cities — and it’s gotten slightly worse recently.

    In 2024, how many minutes on average did commuters spend getting to work in the city?

    A) 31.1 minutes

    B) 33.2 minutes

    C) 27.2 minutes

    D) 45.5 minutes

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re…

    🧸 Loving: A former Daily News sportswriter’s toy drive that gives South Philly kids the “Christmas they deserve.“

    😮 Remembering: When Archbishop Ryan High School students were held hostage on this week in Philly history.

    🍴 Following: What happened after a restaurant came clean about why the Health Department shut it down.

    🫣 Confounded by: The half-naked man who stood — and shivered — on a box near the Liberty Bell.

    📝 Considering: The role that the Department of Licenses and Inspections plays in Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s affordable housing plan.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: Philadelphia-area infant who made international headlines this year

    ABBY JK

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

    Cheers to Sandy Homel, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Austin Davis. Several hospital-based anti-violence programs in the area received $3 million in state funding, as announced Wednesday by Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor.

    Photo of the day

    Members of the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps leave the stage following a performance as the U.S. Mint unveils new coins for the Semiquincentennial at the National Constitution Center.

    Thanks for stopping by this morning. Have a great weekend.

    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.