Category: Newsletters

It’s set to be another gusty day, Philly.

Immigrants who have ongoing legal cases have been unexpectedly taken by federal agents amid the Trump administration’s push to boost arrests and deportations. In Philadelphia, the arrest of an Indonesian man at a routine visa appointment has sparked outrage among advocates.

And a nonprofit offered free MRIs in Hunting Park to screen for brain cancer. Doctors worry they’re not worth the consequences.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Routine appointments now ICE traps

Rian Andrianzah showed up for what he thought was a routine biometrics appointment in Philadelphia last month.

Instead, while his wife waited for him in another room, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested the Indonesian man and sent him to a Central Pennsylvania detention center. He now faces deportation.

It’s part of a strategy shift by President Donald Trump’s administration to arrest green-card applicants, asylum seekers, and others who are going through legal processes to stay in the country, lawyers and advocates say.

Meanwhile, members of the city’s Indonesian American community have responded quickly to Andrianzah’s arrest, raising thousands of dollars to support his family.

Immigration reporter Jeff Gammage explains the case.

Screening for brain cancer

The Brain Tumor Foundation has been holding free screening events for more than a decade in hopes of promoting early detection of brain tumors.

They’re popular, too: All spots for the foundation’s recent multiday screening event at Triumph Baptist Church in Hunting Park were claimed.

In the best scenarios, preventive medical screening can help catch diseases early when they are most treatable, and give people peace of mind.

But they can also lead to overdiagnosis, false positives, unnecessary stress, and costly follow-up procedures, doctors say.

Health reporter Kayla Yup has the story, including the criteria experts say screening tests must meet to be adopted as standard practice.

What you should know today

• The parents of a 16-year-old shot and killed last month near Northeast Philadelphia High want the city to know not just how he died, but who he was.
• A 21-year-old South Jersey man was charged by federal prosecutors with cyberstalking a 13-year-old girl and coercing her into self-harm.
• The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office this month charged a record number of Philly cops in a grant theft scandal. DA Larry Krasner has been unusually quiet about it.
• SEPTA’s largest employee union voted Sunday to authorize a strike. Transport Workers Union Local 234 represents, among other workers, bus, subway, and trolley operators.
• Jefferson Health reported a $104 million operating loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, while Penn Medicine reported a $109 million operating gain in the same period.
• Wilmington-based DuPont’s latest spin-off, Qnity, which makes artificial intelligence-enabling materials, is growing fast with demand from Nvidia. Plus, Swedish-owned Essity acquired a Playtex brands and tampon manufacturing plant in Dover for $340 million.
• Ardella’s House, a residential program to help formerly incarcerated women with reentry, opened its second location in West Philadelphia on Friday.
• St. Hedwig’s in Chester is no longer a church. Some of its buildings may be redeveloped into multifamily housing.
• A 14-foot-long great white shark named Contender, the largest tagged and tracked by research group OCEARCH, pinged near the New Jersey coast last week.

Quote of the day

The Ministry of Awe, a new permanent cultural attraction, is set to open in the historic Manufacturers National Bank in Old City this March. Meg Saligman founded the project in 2022 as a nonprofit dedicated to reviving the vacant bank and creating an arts venue with work that riffs on the bank theme.

🧠 Trivia time

Amy Gutmann is coteaching an undergraduate class this semester in the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication. Which is not one of her past roles?

A) Politics professor at Princeton University

B) Temple University visiting scholar

C) U.S. ambassador to Germany

D) Penn president

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re…

⭐ Voting on: Which Philly restaurants deserve Michelin stars.

🐈 Meeting: Gary, the cat that ended a friendship and cost $25,000 in legal fees.

🎓 Congratulating: Two local students honored as 2026 Rhodes scholars.

🎨 Checking out: The Brandywine Museum of Art’s new Malcolm Jenkins-approved exhibition.

🧠 Considering: What Philadelphia’s next 250 years will look like.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: About 90 minutes from Philly

ANCESTRAL

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

Cheers to Peter Stevens, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Barnes Foundation. A South Philly teen broke into the institution 73 years ago. It led to a lifelong artistic career.

Photo of the day

Puppies that are being raised to serve people who are blind took in the many sights, sounds, and most importantly, the many smells of Philadelphia International Airport Saturday morning.

In other canine-related news: Sixers star Tyrese Maxey’s turn as a pup wrangler will be shown at the National Dog Show this Thanksgiving.

📬 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 Miles Davis, who describes witnessing the emergence of a cultural movement firsthand:

The night that changed my life and let me know I was from the best city in the United States of America was when I was with my best friend, Eric, heading downtown. It was 1980 at Wagner’s Ballroom. We were going to see for the first time a battle of hip-hop, which was turning up the streets with rap and turntables spinning the newest jams.

The show was so lit and not a person was seen sitting. Heck, in the time hip-hop came out, no one was ever sitting at a hip-hop event. We called people who sit at rap concerts a Wall Flower who holds up the wall.

Hip-hop came on the scene with its own sound and meaning. I was so glad to have been a part of that culture knowing what it meant and where it was going.

Follow your own groove today. Have a good one.

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Welcome to a new week, Philly, and go Birds to all who celebrate.

Delaware County is closing two homeless shelters amid Pennsylvania’s budget impasse, leaving families who relied on the services scrambling to find temporary housing.

And remote work is on the decline in 2025, but some Philadelphia business leaders are sticking with it.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Shelter system stretched too thin

Social services organizations around the Philadelphia region have been struggling as the budget impasse in Harrisburg keeps them from receiving expected state funding.

In Delaware County, officials say they’ve propped up the homeless shelter system for as long as they can by dipping into county coffers. Now, they can’t hold on anymore: Two shelters will close this month, and a rental assistance program will be paused.

The closures are likely temporary until a state budget is approved and funding flows again. But remaining shelters have already seen a surge in people seeking assistance. Street outreach providers have noticed more people than usual living outside. And temperatures are dropping.

It’s the latest blow to a county that in recent months has lost its largest hospital system, and as the federal government is set to delay nutrition and energy assistance benefits.

Notable quote: “This is people’s last resort. This is the last stop before being on the street,” a resident of the soon-to-close Wesley House said of the room he shares with his family. “I feel like we’re being kicked while we’re already down.”

Reporters Ximena Conde and Gillian McGoldrick have the story.

In other Delco news: A Republican candidate for a seat on the Upper Darby Township Council is facing scrutiny from Democrats over old social media posts.

‘Give the people what they want’

The pandemic normalized remote work for many Philly-area companies. But more recently, several of the city’s largest employers — Comcast, Independence Blue Cross, and the City of Philadelphia itself, for instance — have required more in-office time.

💼 Employers who have stayed fully or partly remote say the benefits remain.

💼 Some of these company leaders, including those who represent smaller organizations that might not be able to offer the most competitive salaries or bonuses, note that remote work allows employees more flexibility, and helps to attract the best talent from anywhere. For those with hybrid setups, the use of office space is changing, too.

💼 Still, others bemoan the tradeoffs of less face-to-face time.

Business reporter Ariana Perez-Castells has the latest dispatch from the workplace culture front.

What you should know today

• One person was killed and six others were injured in a shooting Saturday at Lincoln University, which was celebrating homecoming weekend, authorities said.
• A Lower Gwynedd man has been charged with the attempted murder of a Plymouth Township police officer after authorities say he struck the officer with his car multiple times.
• Chester saw one of its safest summers ever in 2025, with zero deaths from gun violence. Police and prosecutors credit a combination of advocacy work and intervention groups.
• The family of Kada Scott honored her life Sunday by releasing balloons on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.
• The University of Pennsylvania on Friday released the letter sent to President Donald Trump’s administration, explaining why the school rejected its proposed compact.
• Demonstrators in big, green inflatable costumes have become a symbol of resistance to the Trump administration. A Temple University professor explains why.
• Philadelphia health systems’ profit margins have seen a sharp drop since the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Joyce Wilkerson, Philly’s longest-serving school board member, was just named the nation’s top urban educator. The award comes as her membership on the board has been legally questioned.

Quote of the day

The souls of pets are said to return on Oct. 27, a few days before the Día de Muertos on Nov. 1 and 2. Some families are honoring departed dogs and cats with “pet ofrendas.”

🧠 Trivia time

Which area of Philadelphia has its own Fright Registry, which maps out nearly 100 businesses and homes offering tricks or treats, decorations, or Halloween events for families?

A) West Philly

B) North Philly

C) South Philly

D) Fishtown

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🏀 Naming: All the Sixers who scored 18+ points in their rookie debut.

🚂 Planning: A day of leaf peeping and mountain charm in Jim Thorpe.

🪓 Checking out: King of Prussia Mall’s gaming venue plus bar-restaurant.

🏈 Loving: This football-forged bond between a Cherry Hill teacher and former student.

🚰 Considering: The Gloucester Township candidate who’s an unlikely David to a for-profit water company’s Goliath.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Kid-friendly cultural institution

SUMPTUOUS ACME HEEL

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

Cheers to Bruce L., who solved Sunday’s anagram: Maya Nazareth. The Philadelphia entrepreneur and founder of Alchemize Fightwear delivered her pitch to celebrity investors on ABC’s Shark Tank on Wednesday.

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 Joe Hogan, who adds an entry to a long history of legendary sports fandom:

Philly enjoys a reputation throughout the country as having some of the most robust sports fans. They are not opposed to booing their own team if the team’s performance doesn’t meet fans’ expectations. Our fanatical support for our teams goes back many years.

Back in 1960, my brother Mike attended St. Joseph’s College (now University), where students enthusiastically supported their basketball team. Mike did it in a very special way during a St. Joe’s game at Madison Square Garden’s holiday festival. It was near the end of the second half against Manhattan College, and a questionable foul (in Mike’s view) was called on a St. Joe’s player.

The alleged foul was so dubious — obviously the ref was catering to the home team — that the response required far more than screaming obscenity-laced insults from the stands. It required, in Mike’s mind, an up-close and heated exchange with the ref so he’d understand his infraction. Mike bolted from the stands and onto the court with a defiant finger pointing at the ref, yelling that it was a baseless call. Security quickly escorted Mike from the arena to allow the game to go on.

However, a local news photographer had captured the moment and the picture appeared on the front sports page of a local tabloid. Someone at Life magazine, obviously taken by the intensity depicted in the photo, decided the entire country needed to see this amazing level of fan support. The picture of Mike on the court was included on Life’s last page, which was titled Miscellany. The photo caption identified Mike as the St. Joe’s fan, “with beverage in hand.”

After Life’s publication of the picture, Mike received several standing ovations the next week when entering classrooms.

Keep calm and enjoy your Monday. I’ll be back with you tomorrow morning.

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Happy Saturday.

Today, I’m talking about a “Filmadelphia” movie that captures feeling lost in life, love, and youth in the city.

But first, read on for details on the FBI and Philly police raids on an alleged Kensington drug gang, a Philadelphia-based company helping pay for President Donald Trump’s controversial ballroom, and our weekly report card on this week in news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• FBI Director Kash Patel was in Philadelphia Friday to announce the results of a large-scale investigation into a Kensington-based drug gang, in line with the Trump administration’s nationwide crackdown on suspected drug dealers.
• Comcast is among major U.S. corporations footing part of the $300 million bill for the construction of Trump’s proposed ballroom at the White House.
• Two Plymouth Township police officers were hospitalized Friday after a driver allegedly injured them intentionally with a vehicle in a hotel parking lot. The suspect is in custody.
• A Malvern man who was arrested for bringing a gun and other weapons to a “No Kings” protest over the summer is now in federal custody on charges involving making and possessing explosive devices.
• Toys R Us will open more than two dozen flagship stores and holiday pop-up stores across the country by the end of the year, including two in the Philadelphia area.
• Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro will campaign this weekend for two Democratic governor hopefuls, New Jersey’s U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger.
• Ocean City has declared a local emergency and urged state and federal officials to help after suffering severe beach erosion during recent storms.
• A Delaware County man trolled a Philly Mag writer on Facebook. Now, a judge has ordered him to pay $160,000.
• An estate and former convent in Chestnut Hill has been converted to host galleries centering on local artists by the Woodmere Museum. It opens to the public on Nov. 1.
• From Burgergate to the Schuylkill sinkhole, we graded the good, bad, and weird from the latest Philly news.

My Filmadelphia pick

Sunday marks the conclusion of the 34th Philadelphia Film Festival, and I’m still thinking about one I saw last weekend: Alice-Heart, a gem of a movie showcased under the Filmadelphia program. These are films that are made for Philly, by Philly.

The city, seen through monochromatic lens all throughout, may as well have had acting credits. With the Schuylkill River Trail, the Broad Street Line, and food favorites like Crown Fried Chicken as the backdrop, the titular 20-something tries to find meaning and figure herself out in this quaint city full of possibilities.

Watching Alice-Heart was like watching a train wreck of the chaotic college student life, from the messy to the vulnerable and earnest. It was a sincere portrait of young, passionate people who find themselves trapped in a mess of their own making. The film also felt authentic to itself. I could tell that the people making it love Philly, and that they had fun telling this story. As for myself and the audience, if our collective reactions throughout were any indication, we certainly had fun watching it.

(Psst: You can catch it one last time Saturday at 2 p.m. at Film Society East.)

In other Film Fest news: West Philly native Colman Domingo will be honored on Sunday for his contributions to cinema and the city.

One viewpoint

In 2013, Philadelphia City Council created the Land Bank to help the city acquire and sell vacant, blighted, and tax-delinquent properties. Despite its goal, the agency has been bogged down by dysfunction.

In the latest edition of Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks how a shake-up by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker could lead to more affordable housing.

🧠 Trivia time

Somewhere in Philly, you can find the grave of Benjamin Franklin, marking the Founding Father’s final resting place (unless you believe rumors of his ghost still lurking around).

Where is it?

A) Penn’s Landing

B) Franklin Institute

C) City Hall

D) Old City

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

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Nobel Peace Prize winner

AYALA FAMOUS LIZA

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

Cheers to Kathleen Wersinger who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Carousel House. The West Philly rec center will be Philly’s “flagship.” But people with disabilities will have to wait until 2028 to reunite.

🪩 We were there

Seniors — both senior citizens and high school seniors — let their youthful spirits flow on the dance floor at the 12th annual Golden Age Prom in Cherry Hill on Thursday. Denali Sagner and staff photographer Yong Kim bring us this dispatch from the party.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

A post on X declared: “the prettiest girl you know is probably an Eagles fan.” Naturally, a Philadelphian obliged, immediately proving the point.

The parking situation in South Philadelphia is tight. Nothing new … but this is one wild maneuver.

A Redditor recently shared blissful views from a fall morning walk at Pennypack Park.

And over on Facebook, people are reminiscing in the comments about a 1960s-era photo of the Dupont Street steps in Manayunk. One nicknamed the climb “The Alps of Philadelphia.”

👋🏽 Thanks for stopping by. Let’s do this again tomorrow morning.

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

It’s Friday, Philly. It’s also time to bring your plants inside, with frost advisories possible through the weekend.

A local couple is asking you to reconsider the rock dove with their Philly Pigeon Tours.

And Johnny Doc played a pivotal role electing his brother to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Ten years later, things are different.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. Friday means trivia. Our latest news quiz includes questions on an art theft, a “No Kings” cameo, and more.

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Preaching pigeon empathy

Pigeons once enjoyed high status across ancient cultures as symbols of love, safety, and war. Today, they’re more likely to be viewed as another urban annoyance. You might even know them as “rats with wings.”

🪶 But modern pigeons, aka rock doves, are just misunderstood, according to Hannah Michelle Brower and Aspen Simone. The couple came to appreciate the birds after caring for an ailing one, now named Primrose.

🪶 Their love for their adopted pet has grown into a popular weekly birding tour in the Italian Market (and soon, West Philly), plus a podcast. “We debunk a lot of pigeon misinformation and replace it with facts,” Brower said.

🪶 Their story might just give you a new perspective on the city’s winged — and, in two enthusiasts’ telling, surprisingly cuddly — residents.

Culture reporter Mike Newall has the bird’s-eye view of South Philadelphia.

A family connection

Though it’s been a year since former Philly labor leader John Dougherty reported to federal prison on embezzlement and bribery convictions, his name still looms over Pennsylvania’s elections.

His brother, Kevin Dougherty, is one of three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices up for retention this November. A decade ago, John helped get Kevin elected through the backing of his union, Local 98.

This time around, labor is still spending big on the justice’s retention, though Kevin says his brother is not involved. Republicans have still sought to tie the judge to John’s misdeeds.

Politics reporters Gillian McGoldrick and Katie Bernard explain.

What you should know today

• Failures in the domestic assault and kidnapping cases of Keon King, who is accused of killing Kada Scott, go beyond prosecutors withdrawing earlier charges, a review of police and court records shows. Plus, Scott’s death has prompted City Council to probe the Philadelphia justice system’s handling of domestic violence cases.
• A sixth person will go to trial over the September 2022 shooting outside Roxborough High School that killed 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde and wounded four others.
• A masonry company executive who bribed an Amtrak manager over lucrative 30th Street Station contracts was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in prison.
• The wife of Par Funding’s founder was sentenced to one day in prison — the last prosecution of people tied to the fraudulent firm.
• Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Thursday announced a task force to crack down on illegal dumping, the work of which will include hefty violation notices and monitoring common dump sites.
• Ursinus College president Robyn E. Hannigan, who is in her fourth year at the small liberal arts school in Collegeville, was abruptly removed from the job Thursday.
• More than 300,000 Pennsylvanians need help heating their homes. The federal shutdown has delayed that assistance.
• Philadelphia played host to several cash handoffs tied to a national sports betting scandal involving the NBA, poker games, and the mafia.
• Construction of a new bridge connecting the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Turnpikes could begin in 2031. One of two options will be chosen next spring.

Plus: Where is the ‘Umbrella Man’ statue that used to reside outside the Prince Theater?

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’re resurfacing an explainer from 2019 on the fate of Allow Me, the lifelike, 6-foot-10 sculpture colloquially known as “Umbrella Man.” He disappeared after the former Prince Theater — now owned by the Philadelphia Film Society, hosting its 34th annual Philadelphia Film Festival this week — declared bankruptcy in 2010.

But he didn’t go far. 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 owners of Surfside, the popular Philly-made canned cocktail, are suing Anheuser-Busch over what?

A) Pretending to own Surfside

B) The packaging of its own hard teas

C) Calling Surfside “disgusting”

D) Stealing its secret recipe

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

✈️ Remembering: That time Charles Lindbergh criticized Philly’s airport.

🇺🇸 Celebrating: “52 Weeks of Firsts” in 2026.

👻 Buying: Tickets to the Wanamaker Building’s spooky film series.

🥙 Following: Jersey Kebab from Haddon Township to Collingswood.

🥫 Considering: How work requirements impact Philadelphians’ SNAP benefits.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: West Philly rec center closed in 2021

SCOUR ALEHOUSE

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

Cheers to Eileen Weigand, who solved Thursday’s anagram: city controller. Christy Brady, seeking her first full term as Philly’s fiscal watchdog, is being challenged by Republican Ari Patrinos in the Nov. 4 general election.

Photo of the day

🏓 One last squeaky thing: The biggest squash event in the United States is at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in University City this week. Now is a great time to get into the sport, with the 2028 Olympic Games set to include it for the first time.

Thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer. Enjoy the 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.

We made it to Thursday, Philly. In case you weren’t sure: Earth still has just one moon.

Is 2025 Philadelphia’s year of the parking garage? An unusual number of stand-alone garages have been proposed in the city this year, even as costs to build and maintain them surge.

And in Bucks County, plans for a massive data center has spurred a call to protect consumers from getting hit with power grid costs.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

Editor’s note: We’re sending this morning’s Sports Daily a little late after contending with some technical challenges. We apologize for the delay.

P.S. The Inquirer Food Fest at the Fillmore will assemble the Philly scene’s biggest stars for a day of food, live beats, and hands-on fun. Get your ticket to the Nov. 15 event now.

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‘It’s like building a house for a car’

In a city with too many cars and not enough places to put them all, few civic issues are as polarizing to Philadelphians as parking, especially in densely developed areas like Fishtown.

Three large stand-alone parking garages have been proposed for the city in recent months:

🚧 A 372-unit garage, plus commercial and restaurant space, near the Fillmore and Rivers Casino

🚧 A 495-unit garage in University City, about a fourth of which will be used by a new police forensic lab

🚧 A 1,005-unit garage in Grays Ferry for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia employees

That last project has drawn criticism from neighbors concerned about lost green space and worsened air quality.

Commercial real estate reporter Jake Blumgart explains why developers are keen on building, despite some community protest — and why longtime parking operators aren’t so sure the projects make sense.

In other development news: Councilmember Jamie Gauthier has authored legislation that would increase community scrutiny of major land-use decisions by universities. An antiquated industrial building on North Broad Street near Race Street is being converted to 99 apartments and over 4,000 square feet in restaurant space. And a New York supermarket chain is expected to open a location inside a former South Philly Walgreens.

Data center cost concerns

The capacity and reliability of electrical grids across the United States has emerged as a major issue as data centers rush to go online — including in Bucks County.

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced in June that a data center would be built on the site of a former Falls Township steel mill. It’s one of two big projects Amazon has planned in Pennsylvania to support its cloud computing and artificial intelligence efforts.

An independent monitor is now calling for a transmission service agreement between Peco and Amazon Data Services be rejected, saying it doesn’t go far enough to ensure the cost of heightened energy use is not passed to local consumers.

Environment reporter Frank Kummer has the story.

What you should know today

• Keon King has been charged with murder and may have had help burying the body of 23-year-old Kada Scott, officials said Wednesday. Text messages were also revealed.
• Three men were convicted of first-degree murder and related crimes for a 2023 shooting at a North Philly playground that left three people dead and one injured, prosecutors said Wednesday.
• Two men who set a Fairhill building on fire in 2022 that then collapsed, killing a responding Philadelphia fire lieutenant, were each sentenced Wednesday to decades in prison.
• The mother of a 20-month-old who died in a Harrowgate foster home is suing two child welfare agencies for placing the toddler in a crowded house.
• Dozens of local Catholics rallied outside the federal immigration office in Center City on Wednesday, joining a pro-immigrant push by church groups around the country.
• A grassroots coalition of parents, teachers, and community members is demanding that the Philadelphia School District halt its plan to close schools.
• A University of Pennsylvania faculty group says students and professors have been unfairly called in to stand against “specious accusations of antisemitism.”
• SEPTA must inspect 225 Silverliner IV Regional Rail trains by the end of October. As of midday Wednesday, the transit agency had inspected 78.

Quote of the day

Cahillites coach Rick Prete once turned to football in a moment of need. Now it has become a community for him and his wife, Gabriela, to lean on after their daughter Arianna died in a 2024 car crash.

🧠 Trivia time

New Jersey officials have sued which company, saying it misclassified and exploited its workers?

A) Comcast

B) Google

C) Amazon

D) Johnson & Johnson

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🏀 Kicking off: Another season of wondering how our Sixers will perform.

⛳ Swinging at: Cherry Hill’s new PGA Tour Superstore.

🔬 Considering: How medical experts are stepping up to share credible scientific guidance.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Elected position in local government

LOT INCORRECTLY

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

Cheers to Christine Sulat, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Fort Washington. This suburb is home to one of 11 exciting new pizzerias around the region — plus, see four others our food team is eagerly awaiting.

Photo of the day

Take a stroll amid the changing foliage today, if you can. Either way, have a good one.

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