It’s Saturday.
Snow is a near certainty this weekend, with a winter storm watch starting early Sunday for the Philly area. Coastal flooding is possible at the Shore. Resident weather expert Tony Wood (or “AccuTony,” as we like to call him) has the forecast details.
Philly runs on Wawa. What endears people to the store? Scroll along for a deep dive into how hometown fans fuel the beloved chain’s success, and our staffers’ takes on its food quality over the years.
Plus, we’re talking about a battle of the beer festivals brewing in Philadelphia, a new all-day cafe dosing drinks with controversial psychoactive plants, and our report card for this week in news.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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What you should know today
- The Supreme Court ruling against President Trump’s global tariffs is good news, Pennsylvania lawmakers say. The state’s dairy industry has suffered. And in other federal news, a judge ruled that the Trump administration doesn’t need to finish restoring the President’s House for now.
- A 260-apartment development, largely composed of one-bedroom units, is the latest residential project slated for Ridge Avenue in East Falls.
- Several Quakertown High School students were taken into custody on Friday after a student walkout protesting federal immigration enforcement escalated into a confrontation that left at least one teenager bloodied and in handcuffs, according to witnesses and video footage from the scene.
- Philly Bierfest and the NYC-rooted Philly Beer Fest will be held on the same date this year, and their names sound nearly identical, but the similarities mostly end there. One wants the other to stop confusing customers.
- Two men have been arrested after breaking into a Lululemon store in Ardmore and allegedly stealing nearly $11,000 in merchandise, police said.
- A man was arrested after he allegedly placed hidden cameras inside restrooms at a Gloucester County barbershop where he worked.
- A new all-day lounge in Old City is betting on kava and kratom to pull crowds away from bars. The substances are associated with stress relief — and health risks.
- Haverford College could convene a committee to review whether U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s name should remain on the campus library, following newly revealed details of the mega-donor’s ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The school has also vowed to amend its events policy after a disturbance at a talk by an Israeli journalist.
- Tired Hands Brewing has turned its original Ardmore outpost into a private event space, for now, as its owner navigates the future of the beer company.
- Chicken bones, potholes, Bruce indoors, and a rush to book the Shore — this week’s Philly Report Card grades the city’s late-winter mood.
Quality check
Loyal customers in the Philadelphia area love Wawa. But as the chain grows, its expansion has tested the brand. With shifting menus and quality, how does it keep people coming back? To find out, consumer reporter Erin McCarthy spoke to the experts about Wawa’s “secret sauce” and how it set a national standard for success in the convenience store industry.
And for a dose of hometown critical analysis, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss polled features columnist Stephanie Farr, programming editor Tommy Rowan, and deputy food editor Jenn Ladd. They sound off on Wawa’s transforming food quality, and whether or not it’s changed too much, for better or for worse.
Got thoughts, opinions, or other ideas for topics we should debate? Send in your suggestions here.
One viewpoint
In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson gets into the numbers of the state of crime, public transit, and the economy in Philadelphia.
“Homicides are down, SEPTA ridership is up, and the city’s job growth proves unsurprising,” Pearson writes.
Get Pearson’s perspective on where these and other metrics stand.
📍 Find the location
Think you know where this lion is grazing? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets to the test. Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: A new streaming series that tells the story of America through the lens of Philadelphia
INUIT SPUR
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Kate Vengraitis, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Chris Rabb. The state representative from Northwest Philadelphia said he will not seek reelection while he runs in the Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District.
We were there
Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, better known as La Scala, is one of the world’s most famous opera houses in the world. It’s a popular stop for Winter Olympics spectators when they’re not at a sporting venue.
If it looks familiar, it’s no coincidence. Philadelphia’s Academy of Music was designed after La Scala.
My colleague Ellen Dunkel, who is in Milan covering the Olympics, takes us with her to the theater that inspired our own.
Somewhere on the internet in Philly
Have you seen these brightly colored apartment buildings in North Philadelphia? It sure seems like SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward relocated from Bikini Bottom.
While we’re talking colors, check out this stunning Eagles green painting of the Ben Franklin Bridge. One Reddit user said it “should be the Pantone color of the year.”
And watch out, Bella Vista: A new driver is hitting these ruff roads. Could he be with the “Philadelphia Barking Authority”?
👋🏽 Have a good day, OK? I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.
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