Good morning. It’s finally Friday.
Our top story looks at how Philly-area governments are (or aren’t) working with federal immigration agents.
We’re also following a basketball gambling conspiracy that federal prosecutors say involved tens of thousands of dollars in bribes and millions in fraudulent bets, some of which were placed in Philly.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Taking a stand
Between the newly inaugurated Bucks sheriff canceling an agreement with ICE and Haverford Township banning participation in such deals, top officials across the region are taking a stand against cooperation with ICE.
As they grapple with ever-shifting policies, here’s a brief overview of how they’re handling interactions with federal immigration authorities.
In Philadelphia, ICE is still active, but President Donald Trump has not sent troops as he has to other major cities. Philly calls itself a “welcoming city,” and a 2016 directive orders authorities to not comply with ICE-issued detainer requests unless there is a judicial warrant.
In Bucks County, sheriff’s deputies are no longer allowed to act as immigration officers. However, it is not a sanctuary county, and its corrections department will still share information with federal agencies, including ICE.
In Montgomery County, officials approved a policy that limits communication with ICE, but no formal ordinance labels it a sanctuary or welcoming county.
Politics reporter Fallon Roth explains county-level immigration policies and what local leaders are saying about ICE.
And in related news: The judicial district that oversees the Philadelphia court system says that the authority for managing ICE’s controversial presence at the Criminal Justice Center rests on Sheriff Rochelle Bilal and that decisions around that are her “sole responsibility.”
‘Historic’ gambling case
Federal prosecutors charged dozens of people Thursday in a wide-ranging scheme to fix basketball games in the NCAA and China.
Some of the bets in the “point-shaving” operation, placed at Rivers Casino in Philadelphia, were for hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to U.S. Attorney David Metcalf.
Who was charged: Twenty basketball players and six so-called “fixers.” They are accused of crimes, including bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud. A number of Division 1 college players from programs including Northwestern State University and La Salle University were reportedly involved.
How they allegedly did it: The fixers would bribe players to underperform in games, then bettors would wager against that player’s team and collect millions in illicit winnings, Metcalf said.
Chris Palmer and Ryan W. Briggs have the story.
What you should know today
- Nearly 20 people witnessed an assault in the Cheltenham High football team’s locker room last fall, and no one tried to stop it, according to an external investigation.
- The Norristown Hospitality Center, a nonprofit day shelter for people experiencing homelessness, will shut down if it can’t find a new home quickly.
- A Republican state senator from Allentown called Philadelphia a nasty word. He doubled down on his remarks despite heavy backlash from prominent Philly Democrats.
- Penn has refused to comply with a federal subpoena seeking a list of Jewish students and faculty as part of a federal antisemitism investigation. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing the university for the data.
- Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration sued a former vendor for failing to deliver 3.4 million pieces of state agency mail to residents. In Shapiro’s first public remarks on the matter, he called the situation “absolutely unacceptable.”
- Families have flooded Yeadon police with concerns for their buried dead after more than 100 human remains were stolen from Mount Moriah Cemetery.
- Emergency medical services at Riddle Hospital in Media will be rebranded as Main Line Health EMS. The seven-ambulance fleet serves Main Line’s four-hospital system.
- Two former employees described safety issues and a culture hostile to women in their lawsuits against Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey.
- Rosemont College’s accrediting body has asked the school for information on its student records and finances and policies “to ensure truthfulness in public relations announcements.”
- Love City Brewing will take over a historic two-story building on Main Street in Manayunk.
Plus: Why isn’t the Philadelphia Art Museum more lit up at night?
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 reporter Michelle Myers on why the Philadelphia Art Museum looks so dull and dim at night after a reader lamented the “shyness of such a gorgeous building.”
The reason it is kept looking gloomy in the dark involves infrastructure, money, and negotiations. 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
Erin Andrews’ coat at the Eagles-49ers game stole the show. What was it made of?
A) Chinchilla
B) Vintage mink
C) Eagle feathers
D) Faux fur
Think you got it? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.
What (and whom) we’re …
🏅 Honoring: These Eagles with end-of-year awards and other superlatives.
✅ Noting: What’s open and closed in the Philly area on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
⚽ Interviewing: USMNT stalwart Antonee Robinson, whose return to action for Fulham shows what the U.S. has missed.
😋 Discovering: How a crusty, crackling bun topping traveled from Mexico to China — and where to eat them in Philly.
⚾ Getting to know: The Phillies’ new 17-year-old center fielder Francisco Renteria, a top international prospect.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Philadelphia’s favorite Victorian novelist
CHASED CRINKLES
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Tommy Joyce, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Brent Celek. The former Eagles tight end is using his platform to raise awareness on men’s health.
Photo of the day
Thanks, as always, for reading. Have a great weekend.
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