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  • Kaylah Turner went from Temple’s top reserve to leading scorer in the American — and she isn’t satisfied

    Kaylah Turner went from Temple’s top reserve to leading scorer in the American — and she isn’t satisfied

    Temple guard Kaylah Turner describes her play as “KT ball,” which she says is scoring at all three levels and being a pest on defense.

    However, the 5-foot-6 junior is constantly looking to improve, whether it’s becoming a better passer or grabbing more rebounds. Her drive has helped her blossom into one of the best players in the American Conference.

    The Alabama A&M transfer and reigning American sixth player of the year leads the conference in scoring with 17.2 points per game. It’s been a difficult stretch for the Owls in conference play, and Turner has led Temple (10-13, 4-7) to three wins in its last seven games. She scored 12 points in Tuesday’s 52-43 loss against University of Texas San at Antonio.

    “We just have to focus on the next game,” Turner said. “We can’t really draw on all the losses.”

    Temple guard Kaylah Turner is averaging 17.2 points per game.

    Turner had high expectations this season. She was named to the American’s preseason all-conference first team after a strong first season with the Owls, in which she averaged 9.9 points on 38.5% shooting off the bench. With the graduation of guards Tiarra East and Tarriyonna Gary, Turner moved into the starting lineup this season.

    “First-team preseason was cool, but I think I should have been preseason player of the year,” Turner said. “So that’s on my mind, and that’s what’s motivated me every day to get better because I didn’t get my original goal, so I still have another couple of goals in mind. I’m just never satisfied.”

    Moving into the starting lineup paired Turner with point guard Tristen Taylor, who led the American in assist-to-turnover ratio last season. Turner’s scoring prowess and Taylor’s facilitating has forged a formidable backcourt.

    Born in The Inquirer’s newsroom, the AP women’s basketball poll ‘has stood the test of time’

    “We play very well together,” Taylor said. “I feel like we’re actually the best backcourt duo in the conference, and I’ll say that. But Kaylah comes in here and works hard every day. She is a great teammate, not just to me, but to everybody. She always brings energy, and I just feel like that flows onto the court when she goes out and plays.”

    That energy has helped Turner lead the conference in scoring and shoot 41.6% on three-pointers, which is second in the conference..

    However, when Temple lost four of its first five American contests, Turner was one of the players who couldn’t find her groove.

    Turner shot below 40% in four of those five games. Before Temple’s game against South Florida on Jan. 20, the team held a meeting to go over everyone’s role on the floor. The Owls beat the Bulls, 86-83, and are 3-3 since the meeting. Turner has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the refreshed role clarity.

    Temple’s Kaylah Turner has surpassed 1,000 career points this season.

    She had a 27-point outburst in Temple’s 67-65 overtime win over Tulane on Jan. 31 and came up with a steal and assisted forward Jaleesa Molina’s game-winning layup in the final seconds.

    “We were just super locked in on that play,” Turner said. “I got the steal, but all my teammates were all talking at that time. So that’s why we got that steal and Jaleesa was able to get the bucket.”

    Turner also eclipsed 1,000 career points after knocking down a three-pointer in the second quarter in the win over the Green Wave.

    “It definitely means a lot,” Turner said. “I was definitely happy when I got it. Just seeing my success that I had at Alabama A&M, and then having the same thing here is just incredible, seeing my hard work pay off in that aspect.”

    Temple showed resilience in historic comeback victory over Charlotte

    Despite having the best season of her career, Turner sees plenty of room for improvement. With Temple ninth in the 13-team American with seven games to play, Turner is looking to give the Owls momentum heading into the conference tournament.

    “Looking at these games that we won recently, it was with the defense and 50/50 balls, intensity, urgency, all that type of stuff,” Turner said. “So we can make sure we really emphasize the little things. We can sit here and look at scout and run our plays, but what wins games is everything that’s not on the scout. Energy, talking, getting on the floor, that type of stuff. Just being consistent with our spicy defense, like Coach [Diane Richardson] always talks about.”

  • U.S. men’s World Cup hopeful Noahkai Banks is taking the slow and steady approach

    U.S. men’s World Cup hopeful Noahkai Banks is taking the slow and steady approach

    As the clock ticks toward the World Cup, the buzz continues to grow around 19-year-old U.S. national team centerback prospect Noahkai Banks.

    Though there’s no guarantee yet that he’ll make the tournament squad, the attention is warranted. He has played in 16 of the last 17 games for his club, FC Augsburg of Germany’s Bundesliga, and often has looked good on the field.

    That puts Banks squarely on the list of names you’d want to know before the World Cup — and certainly before the U.S. team’s last auditions in March.

    He knows it, as he said when he spoke with The Inquirer earlier in the season. This week brought another opportunity to get to know him, as the Bundesliga hosted a roundtable with Banks for U.S. media.

    Noahkai Banks (rear) in action against Eintracht Frankfurt in a German Bundesliga game in December.

    There was much to talk about, starting with his reflections on his one U.S. team camp so far last fall.

    “I was pretty nervous when I got into camp because I was 18 years old at the moment,” said Banks, who turned 19 on Dec. 1. “So I thought maybe the older guys will think, ‘Who’s that,’ or ‘What is he doing here?’”

    In fact, the opposite happened.

    Noahkai Banks knows he’s getting a lot of USMNT hype, but he isn’t thinking about the World Cup yet

    “For example, Tim Ream, the first day in training, he helped me a lot, because he plays in my position,” Banks said of the fellow centerback and frequent U.S. captain. “He has coached me a lot and helped me to get into the training and into the new tactics — because, obviously, it was a big jump. But also, the older guys also had dinner and they said, ‘Come sit at our table.’”

    Little things like that are a great sign of the strong spirit in the American program.

    “Players like [Christian] Pulisic, [Tim] Weah, they helped me a lot,” Banks said, naming two of the Americans’ biggest stars. Of others, he said, “How they welcomed me, how they made my life easy, was very cool, to be honest.”

    It was no surprise that he praised manager Mauricio Pochettino, but how he did so was news.

    Brenden Aaronson is on a hot streak with Leeds United at an ideal time for his World Cup hopes

    “He has been a centerback back in the day [as a player], he knows the position very well, and he’s helped me with small details like positioning and stuff like this,” Banks said. “Just the small things, which make a difference at the highest level. He gave me some tips, and I hope I can do what he told me in the future.”

    ‘Happy with the U.S.’ and ‘grounded’ at home

    National team staff has remained in touch with Banks since then, further raising the odds of a March call-up. But because he hasn’t formally committed to the senior U.S. team yet, the Hawaii native still can switch allegiance to Germany, where he has lived since age 10.

    Noahkai Banks in action against German power Bayern Munich earlier this season.

    “I’ve been in touch with Germany before, to be honest,” Banks said, but he “was always very happy with the U.S. You can’t tell what happens in the future, but at the moment, there’s not a thought of switching, or something like this, because I’m happy with the U.S.”

    That happiness dates back to playing for various U.S. youth teams, including at the 2023 under-17 World Cup.

    USMNT stalwart Antonee Robinson is finally healthy again, and hopes to get back to the national team soon

    “One of the best experiences in my life,” he said. “And then also at [the] U-19 and U-20 level, I was always just very happy to get into camp to see my friends again, because we were a big class of friends. It was not like I [would] go to the national team and play football, it was like I meet my friends and play football with them.”

    Banks does not lack for confidence, but he carries it well.

    “To be honest, I was always very confident — I think I have that from my mom,” he said. “So I always believed in myself, and I always believed I can play in the Bundesliga. But I think, also, confidence grows and builds itself up with time and with games.”

    Those games have earned the trust of Augsburg’s coaching staff, a feat made harder by two managerial changes since last summer. The club has been fighting all season to avoid relegation. It’s currently 13th in the 18-team league, but just three standings points into safety.

    “It has been a great year so far, because I didn’t expect to play that much, to be absolutely honest with you,” Banks said. “But yeah, the coaches have given me a lot of trust, a lot of minutes. So [over] time, as I said before, I got more confident with the team, with my teammates, with the players, with the tactics.”

    The Inquirer’s complete guide to the World Cup in Philadelphia

    Family matters a lot to him, too. He is close with his mother, Nadine, whose own athletic genes earned her a shot at college basketball before repeated tears to her ACL derailed it. She moved Banks to Germany after separating from his father, settling in a Bavarian mountain town just over an hour from Augsburg.

    “I think it’s easy to stay grounded because I have a great family behind me,” the son said. “And also the club doesn’t allow [otherwise] because my teammates are all very grounded and very humble. It’s like a big family here.”

    Then he added a flourish that far-away Philadelphia would appreciate: “Also, my mom would kick my [butt] if I’m not grounded anymore, so there’s no chance of that.”

    Nor is there a chance of Banks looking too far ahead — as in, to the World Cup — before Augsburg’s season is settled.

    “As I said a lot of times before, I think it’s not the right moment to think about the World Cup for me, because we have a lot of games left here,” he said. “So, really, just focus. A lot of players say it, but I really mean it: I really just focus on the games we have here. And, yeah, then let’s see what happens in summer.”

  • Villanova and Notre Dame finalizing a deal to open 2026-27 basketball season in Italy

    Villanova and Notre Dame finalizing a deal to open 2026-27 basketball season in Italy

    An audience with the Pope?

    Villanova and Notre Dame are finalizing an agreement to open the 2026-27 men’s and women’s basketball seasons with a doubleheader in Rome, sources told The Inquirer.

    CBS Sports was first to report the news Tuesday night.

    A contract has not been signed, and some logistics are still being worked out, but the schools are working toward that point, sources said. According to CBS, the schools received a special waiver to play the games on Sunday, Nov. 1, despite the college basketball season officially starting a day later.

    The games will be played at the Palazzetto dello Sport, which seats 3,500 people for basketball, according to CBS.

    This video screen grab shows Pope Leo XIV wearing a Villanova hat gifted to him during a meeting with an Italian heritage group.

    The contests are likely to give Villanova an audience with arguably the school’s most famous graduate. Pope Leo XIV is a 1977 Villanova alumnus formerly known as Robert Prevost. Notre Dame, meanwhile, is the largest Catholic university by endowment.

    ‘How absurd is that?’: Pope Leo XIV, once just a Villanova student named Bob, is a Wildcats basketball fan

    The game gives Villanova’s men’s team another power-conference opponent on its nonconference schedule. The Wildcats will host Michigan and Wisconsin and also play at Pittsburgh during their nonconference slate next season.

  • Grand jury refuses to indict Democratic lawmakers in connection with illegal military orders video

    Grand jury refuses to indict Democratic lawmakers in connection with illegal military orders video

    WASHINGTON — A grand jury in Washington refused Tuesday to indict Democratic lawmakers in connection with a video in which they urged U.S. military members to resist “illegal orders,” according to a person familiar with the matter.

    The Justice Department opened an investigation into the video featuring Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin and four other Democratic lawmakers urging U.S. service members to follow established military protocols and reject orders they believe to be unlawful. All the lawmakers previously served in the military or at intelligence agencies.

    What does sedition actually mean? Here’s what to know about Trump’s accusation against Democratic lawmakers.

    Grand jurors in Washington declined to sign off on charges in the latest of a series of rebukes of prosecutors by citizens in the nation’s capital, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter. It wasn’t immediately clear whether prosecutors had sought indictments against all six lawmakers or what charge or charges prosecutors attempted to bring.

    Grand jury rejections are extraordinarily unusual, but have happened repeatedly in recent months in Washington as citizens who have heard the government’s evidence have come away underwhelmed in a number of cases. Prosecutors could try again to secure an indictment.

    Spokespeople for the U.S. attorney’s office and the Justice Department didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

    The FBI in November began contacting the lawmakers to schedule interviews, outreach that came against the backdrop of broader Justice Department efforts to punish political opponents of the president. President Donald Trump and his aides labeled the lawmakers’ video as “seditious” — and Trump said on his social media account that the offense was “punishable by death.”

    Besides Slotkin and Kelly, the other Democrats who appeared in the video include Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania.

    Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who represents Michigan, said late Tuesday that she hopes this ends the Justice Department’s probe.

    “Tonight we can score one for the Constitution, our freedom of speech, and the rule of law,” Slotkin said in a statement. “But today wasn’t just an embarrassing day for the Administration. It was another sad day for our country,” she said.

    Kelly, a former Navy pilot who represents Arizona, called the attempt to bring charges an “outrageous abuse of power by Donald Trump and his lackies.”

    “Donald Trump wants every American to be too scared to speak out against him,” Kelly said in a post on X. “The most patriotic thing any of us can do is not back down.”

    In November, the Pentagon opened an investigation into Kelly, citing a federal law that allows retired service members to be recalled to active duty on orders of the defense secretary for possible court-martial or other punishment. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has censured Kelly for participating in the video and is trying to retroactively demote Kelly from his retired rank of captain.

    The senator is suing Hegseth to block those proceedings, calling them an unconstitutional act of retribution. During a hearing last week, the judge appeared to be skeptical of key arguments that a government attorney made in defense of Kelly’s Jan. 5 censure by Hegseth.

  • Let us help you find a date night restaurant | Let’s Eat

    Let us help you find a date night restaurant | Let’s Eat

    Need an evening out, just the two of you? Try our online finder for the answer.

    Also in this edition:

    — Mike Klein

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

    Let us help you with date night

    “Where do we go for date night?” We have answers for you! Answer five simple questions and let The Inquirer’s Date Finder match you with the ideal Philly-area restaurant.

    ❤️ Where to find love in the city? These happy people tried its oldest bar.

    ❤️ Valentine’s Day coincides with Lunar New Year. Here’s where to celebrate.

    A wine shop-plus in Chestnut Hill

    A couple saw opportunity in a courtyard in Chestnut Hill, and they’re launching a bottle shop and ambitious wine-focused restaurant.

    Craig LaBan reviews Tesiny

    At Tesiny, the striking new oyster bar and grill from lox and caviar queen Lauren Biederman, critic Craig LaBan finds craft cocktails, shareable plates, and “an extra pulse of intimacy.”

    ❗Biederman is targeting April for the opening of Biederman’s Rittenhouse, the second location of her South Philly appetizing shop. It’s coming together at 20th and Spruce Streets, the former Charley Dove/Audrey Claire space, with more baking and prepared foods.

    Tasty baked goods by the road

    Chester County appears to be a growing incubator of homespun bakeries, some with carts and stands dotting residential roads.

    Bad news comes in threes

    Cookie crumbles: The two Taylor Chip locations in Philadelphia closed in the last week. What’s up there?

    Deli drama: The Kibitz Room in Cherry Hill has filed for bankruptcy protection as a former owner says he wants to buy it.

    Grocery woes: Di Bruno Bros. is bowing out of the burbs, but there’s hope for the former Ardmore location.

    The best things we ate last week

    Too pretty to eat? You’d be denying yourself a crunchy treat if you skipped the Bloom Shroom, an appetizer at Manong in Francisville. Check out this dish and gems from Emmett and Apricot Stone in our weekly feature.

    Scoop

    This is quite early, but a high-end Japanese restaurant is planned for a building that will eventually rise on the former site of Kitchen Kapers at 17th and Chancellor Streets in Center City. Among those involved is Tony Rim, formerly of 1225 Raw. Put down the chopsticks, as this one might be two years away. Still, it’s a sign that the upscale Rittenhouse Japanese scene (Dancerobot, Uchi, and Kissho House) is growing further.

    Restaurant report

    It’s the Year of the Horse, and Kiki Aranita offers a rundown of dining spots where you can celebrate.

    Briefly noted

    At ease! There’s been a truce in a trademark lawsuit surrounding the recreation of Tun Tavern in Old City.

    The “saucer” at Love Park — the old visitor’s center — is in line to reopen this year with a food, beverage, retail, or other hospitality business.

    Texas Roadhouse has set Feb. 16 for the opening of its third area location (after Bensalem and Montgomeryville) at Greentree Square in Marlton. It replaces the TGI Fridays that closed two years ago.

    Shibam Coffee, a Yemeni coffee house, is looking at next week for its soft opening at 3748 Lancaster Ave. in University City.

    Cake & Joe has penciled in Feb. 18 for its opening at 1735 Market St., its third location.

    Aurora Cafe opens Saturday at 17th and Christian Streets, bringing a zenlike espresso-bar sensibility — and Albanian coffee culture — to Graduate Hospital. The corner café comes from cousins Arjan Parllaku and Bledar Noka, among partners at the Queen Village restaurants Capri and Casa Nostra. Baked goods include wares from home bakers and items produced at Capri. They’re particularly stoked for a feature called “F1 on the bar”: a $2 espresso shot you order at the standing bar, priced less than to-go orders. Initial hours: 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

    Wonder announced this week that it’s acquired New York’s vaunted Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken. This is Wonder’s first full purchase; its other restaurant brands were created in-house or licensed to Wonder. No word on which locations will carry it. Meanwhile, Wonder has created a salad brand (Pop Salad) and a Mexican bowl brand (El Diez). They’ll be sold starting today at the Fishtown, Rittenhouse, South Philly, and University City locations.

    ❓Pop quiz

    What kind of dog does Kalaya chef/owner “Nok” Suntaranon own?

    A) Portuguese water dog

    B) beagle

    C) poodle

    D) Pomeranian

    Find out if you know the answer, and see a cute photo.

    Ask Mike anything

    What happened to the Taylor Chip cookie shops in Rittenhouse and Fishtown? — Dianne M.

    Taylor Chip has permanently closed its Philly locations after only 17 months. Read on to see how the Lancaster County company is now selling a lot of cookies.

    📮 Have a question about food in Philly? Email your questions to me at mklein@inquirer.com for a chance to be featured in my newsletter.

    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.

  • Take a breath: Medicaid hasn’t changed yet | Expert Opinion

    Take a breath: Medicaid hasn’t changed yet | Expert Opinion

    “Another month without insurance,” our patient’s mother sighed. She had brought her 18-month old to all his doctor’s appointments in his first year. Then his Medicaid coverage was cut off, and she had no idea why.

    She tried multiple times to contact Medicaid, but couldn’t get through, and assumed incorrectly that this must be due to changes in the state-federal insurance program she had heard about on the news. She spent a week’s wages on care so her baby would not fall behind on his recommended visits, but wondered if she could afford future appointments. What would happen if he needed emergency care?

    As pediatricians, we worry about kids not getting the care they need. Health insurance, particularly Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), is essential to children receiving recommended care. Navigating insurance coverage is confusing on a good day. We know it’s about to become even more challenging for children to get and stay covered because of changes coming to the Medicaid program.

    Fortunately, there was positive news to share with our patient that we wanted to share with everyone: Medicaid has not changed yet. Plus, there are things families can do to prepare for upcoming changes.

    Medicaid is the federal and state insurance program that covers two in five Pennsylvanian children and over half of children nationally.

    What has happened, and what can you expect?

    • January 2026: Premium tax credits expired. These tax credits helped low- and middle-income people without affordable employer insurance pay for Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage, based on a sliding scale.
    • October 2026: Many legally residing immigrants previously eligible for Medicaid will lose coverage, including refugees, asylum-seekers, and victims of trafficking.
    • January 2027: Certain adults will have work requirements and need to prove Medicaid eligibility every six months rather than annually. This will apply to adults who are not pregnant, disabled, or the parents or caregiver for a child under 14 or foster youth under age 26. Six month redetermination will also apply to moderate-income Pennsylvanians who became eligible under Medicaid expansion a few years ago.

    What does this mean for families?

    • If you have private insurance with ACA tax credits, you may pay more for coverage.
    • Even if your own Medicaid eligibility changes, your child will likely remain eligible, and you must show they’re eligible annually, not every six months. .This is important as research shows that children are less likely to stay enrolled when parents lose coverage.

    How can Pennsylvania families prepare?

    In this changing policy landscape, pediatricians aren’t just clinicians — we’re essential partners in keeping children covered and cared for. We will always want to hear from you. So, tell your pediatrician about any insurance struggles. If you have questions or are confused by information you hear, visit Pediatric Health Chat and tell CHOP what topics you’d like to learn more about. Because we will always advocate for health insurance that covers all children and gives them a healthy future.

    Elizabeth Salazar and Diana Montoya-Williams are attending neonatologists at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Assistant Professors of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, and health services researchers at CHOP PolicyLab and the Penn Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics.

  • Why a film about the fight for immigrant rights in Philly during Trump 1.0 feels so relevant now

    Why a film about the fight for immigrant rights in Philly during Trump 1.0 feels so relevant now

    It’s 2018 in Philadelphia.

    Donald Trump is president. Cristina Martinez, immigration advocate and chef of South Philly Barbacoa, is featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table and is one year away from her first James Beard Award nomination. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Philadelphia is one of the busiest in the nation, arresting around 3,000 people in the first six months of the year alone.

    The community organization Juntos — in its signature green-and-white “Sí Se Puede” T-shirts — is visible at rallies and meetings to convince city officials to limit ICE access to the Philadelphia Police Department’s Preliminary Arraignment Reporting System database.

    A still image from the documentary “Expanding Sanctuary” by Philadelphia filmmaker Kristal Sotomayor. The 2024 BlackStar award-winning short film will have a virtual screening on Wednesday, Feb. 11, and a local screening on April 29 and 30, as part of the Table Sessions at Bartram’s Garden.

    For anyone viewing Philadelphia filmmaker Kristal Sotomayor’s short film, Expanding Sanctuary, for the first time at a free virtual screening and Q&A on Wednesday at 8 p.m., the issues depicted as impacting the lives of Philadelphia’s unauthorized immigrants will seem both meaningfully the same, and poignantly different, than they are today.

    Philadelphia immigrants haven’t changed really — they still fall in love, get married, tend to their children, work hard, and look out for neighbors in need. They still give their time to building strong and loving communities.

    But Philadelphia’s current mayor, Cherelle L. Parker, is markedly less defiant about Trump’s anti-immigrant efforts than then-Mayor Jim Kenney was. And in this second term, the Trump administration’s direction of ICE has pushed the agency to become more gleefully militaristic and violent.

    Legislation, like the Laken Riley Act, has passed with bipartisan support, essentially treating immigrants accused of a criminal offense as if they had already been found guilty of it — codifying the violation of their constitutionally protected rights. Plus, thanks to Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” ICE now has an extraordinary amount of funding to do with what it will.

    A still image from the documentary, Expanding Sanctuary, by Philadelphia filmmaker Kristal Sotomayor. The 2024 BlackStar award-winning short film will have a virtual screening on Wed. Feb. 11, and a local screening on April 29 and 30, as part of the Table Sessions at Bartram’s Garden.

    So, I asked Sotomayor: Why release the film now, into a U.S. that speaks more frequently in virulent terms about immigrants, when the national justice picture is grimmer, and our municipal leaders have chosen to stay more silent than before?

    “Yeah, many things have changed,” Sotomayor told me via email. “Politically in Philadelphia, you are right that there is now a mayor who is less willing to push back against the federal government to protect immigrant rights. The mayor has not been willing to uphold sanctuary status or sanctuary policies. We are also dealing with far more mass surveillance than there was in 2018 … ICE now has access to everything from tax records to hospital records to things we probably are not even fully aware of yet.”

    “I also do not think immigrant rights are as much of a national issue as they were in 2018,” Sotomayor added, “when the photo of the young boy in a detention center (essentially a cage) sparked widespread national outrage. I am not really seeing that same level of response right now [even though] there are protests around the country against the ramping up of ICE enforcement.”

    Kristal Sotomayor, the award-winning, nonbinary, Philadelphia-area Peruvian American director and producer of “Expanding Sanctuary” will lead a Q&A after the film’s virtual screening on Feb. 11.

    But, Sotomayor added: “For me, it is vital that this film is circulating now. Expanding Sanctuary is a hopeful story. In many ways, the film feels like it could have been shot last week. It shows how communities organized, changed policy, and protected their families during the first Trump presidency, and [it] reminds us that collective action is still possible now.”

    “At a time when so many people are feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, this film offers a success story,” they added. “It demonstrates that change is possible, that policy can be shifted, and that families can be protected, not just in the past, but moving forward into the future.”

    Faith communities are showing up at the ICE office for 40 weeks of prayer and protest | Sabrina Vourvoulias

    The Wednesday virtual screening of the documentary, which was honored at the 2024 BlackStar Film Festival, will be followed by a Q&A. Featured speakers are scheduled to include Sotomayor, Linda Hernandez, the Philadelphia-based community leader and holistic wellness practitioner who is the protagonist of Expanding Sanctuary, and Katie Fleming, an immigration lawyer and the director of public education and engagement at the Acacia Center for Justice.

    The in-person screening of the film at the Table Sessions at Bartram’s Garden on April 29 and 30 will include live music from Mariposas Galácticas and food by South Philly Barbacoa’s Martínez.

    I’ll be honest, I came away from my most recent viewing of Sotomayor’s film feeling a bit nostalgic. Not only was it filled with the faces of beloved community members — some of whom have recently stepped away from decades of work helping people see immigrants as human beings, not abstractions — but also because of the intimate specificity of what Expanding Sanctuary celebrates.

    There on the soundtrack are the musicians who once told me that making space for convivencia is making space for life, for community, and, yes, for resistance. There on screen is the Philadelphia I adore — where James Beard winners feed desperate families living in sanctuary, where people show up to protest in their wedding dresses, where sidewalks become sign-making studios, and where mothers raise their families on both tortillas and hope.

    The huge anti-ICE protests these days are amazing, but they should never obscure the fact that while we must always fight against injustice and the weakening of democratic norms, we cannot forget who we are fighting for — real people, real neighborhoods and communities, real cities whose civic leaders may have forgotten their voices, but whose residents never will.

    For their part, Sotomayor is hopeful. “I think we are ramping up toward something that could be just as strong and just as powerful as what is portrayed in Expanding Sanctuary,” they told me.

    “It may take some time for immigrant rights to become a national talking point again, as it was in 2018, but I do believe that moment will come with larger protests, deeper outrage, and, ultimately, real change.”

    To attend the virtual screening and Q&A on Feb. 11, click here. For more information about the Table Sessions at Bartram’s Garden on April 29 and 30, click here.

  • A nonprofit’s near implosion | Morning Newsletter

    A nonprofit’s near implosion | Morning Newsletter

    Good morning, Philly. Sun and high temps near 40? What is this, summer?

    The city spent millions to expand a single anti-violence nonprofit. Instead, it nearly imploded — facing evictions and a federal tax lien. Our investigation examines why the NOMO Foundation shut down its affordable housing program only a few years after launching it.

    And Tyrese Maxey has leveled up to become a starter in this weekend’s NBA All-Star Game. Step into his New Balances and see if you can read the game like the star 76ers guard.

    — Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

    Politically connected, financially unstable

    In 2021, the NOMO Foundation won a $1 million grant from the city to provide after-school programming for young people affected by violence.

    With that backing, the nonprofit — formally known as New Options, More Opportunities — expanded quickly, launching a low-income housing initiative and opening youth centers across the city.

    NOMO ultimately received more than $6 million in public funding. Yet in 2025, less than three years after the housing program began, it was forced to end the effort while facing evictions, an IRS lien, and lawsuits alleging hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid rent.

    Why did the nonprofit receive so much public funding despite repeated warnings from city grant managers about improper spending and mismanagement?

    Reporters Ryan W. Briggs and Samantha Melamed investigate.

    What you should know today

    Pull up, drive, or wait?

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey will have a big presence at the NBA All-Star Weekend: He’s both a starter in Sunday’s All-Star Game and a competitor in Saturday’s three-point contest.

    🏀 Maxey joined Philly’s team as a rookie in 2020 and is now in the midst of a breakout season as the Sixers’ top scorer, averaging 29.2 points per game and making 38.2% of his shots from deep.

    🏀 As he steps into this leadership role — especially as other top players sit out — every decision Maxey makes on the court dictates the Sixers’ chances of contention. So far, plenty of those decisions have led the team to victory.

    🏀 Can you make the right reads that he has all year? When he’s mismatched against Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis, for instance, how should he make use of his quickness advantage? When coming down the court in early offense, should he pull up, drive, or wait?

    Play along to predict what the Sixers guard does next in this lo-fi game.

    More on the Sixers:

    Quote of the day

    The Council president has largely taken a measured approach on national politics, opting to address President Donald Trump’s actions by convening task forces and holding public hearings. After watching federal agents’ deadly campaign in Minneapolis, Johnson now says he’s leading an “activist body” to push back on the administration.

    🧠 Trivia time

    The historic former visitor center in LOVE Park could soon get a revival, as the city seeks project ideas. What is the building shaped like?

    A) An octopus

    B) A flying saucer

    C) A kite and key

    D) The Liberty Bell

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re …

    🐎 Celebrating: Chinese New Year with these chef collaboration dinners and special menus.

    🥊 Recounting: The history of Philly’s Joe Frazier statue, from inception to a potential Art Museum move.

    🎥 Anticipating: This Old City studio’s doc about Mount Airy-born comedian Bob Saget.

    ⚾ Asking: Nine questions about the Phillies as spring training opens.

    🍼 Considering: The impact of the Bryn Mawr birth center’s closure.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: High-end grocery brand

    INDOOR BURBS

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

    Cheers to new reader Mattingly Cohen, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Vanguard. Hundreds of Infosys workers are returning to the Malvern-based investment group, which sent them to the contractor in 2020.

    Photo of the day

    Construction continues on the boardwalk in Ventnor, N.J.

    🔨 One last rebuilt thing: With federal money targeted for boardwalks, Ventnor is one of several Jersey Shore towns replacing their signature walkways. Take a look at how they’re doing it.

    Be sure to catch the sun before more clouds are expected tomorrow. ’Til then, 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.

  • Roadside bakeries are gaining popularity | Inquirer Chester County

    Roadside bakeries are gaining popularity | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    Microbakeries are popping up around the county. Here’s where you can find some. Also this week, a teahouse and community space is planning to relocate to Exton, a former Malvern business owner has been sentenced to prison for deceptive practices, plus a new jazz cafe is opening in Coatesville.

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    Roadside bakeries are filling a void across the county

    The Devon Road Made bakery cart is stocked with bread, cookies, and other baked goods.

    A small but growing number of home bakers in Chester County are looking to fill a void in the community — and in people’s stomachs.

    Microbakeries are slowly growing countywide, with 28 licensed as of last year. They’re selling goods like breads, cookies, cinnamon buns, and pancake mixes from stands outside their homes or through online ordering.

    While some of these bakers prioritize premium ingredients, many are also putting in something you won’t find on the label. “I like to put a lot of heart and soul into it,” said one baker. “I feel if you’re going to put good energy into that, people are going to feel that.”

    The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz recently visited some of these microbakeries.

    A teahouse and community space is relocating to Exton

    Koselig Nook is planning to relocate to Exton this month.

    A Coatesville business, whose name is inspired by the Norwegian term for contentment and coziness, is relocating to Exton this month.

    The goal of moving Koselig Nook is to ensure more Chester County residents have access to the teahouse, which also functions as a third space. Visitors can reserve a time in the relaxing atmosphere — which has a no-shoes policy — for select weekday or weekend slots.

    The idea is to give people a calming place to go between work or school that’s not a bar.

    Read more about what inspired Koselig Nook.

    📍 Countywide News

    • Residents expressed anger after Enforcement and Removal Operations agents allegedly made what some described to 6abc as “violent” arrests in Phoenixville last week. Video from the confrontation shows agents dragging a person from a vehicle before being taken into custody. Shortly after the incidents, the Chester County District Attorney and the Chester County Police Chiefs Association released a joint statement saying that no police departments in the county have been deputized to carry out ICE actions, nor do they enforce immigration orders. They also noted that they will investigate any major incident to ensure no local laws were violated, adding that “Chester County law enforcement is dedicated to protecting the public, regardless of their immigration status.”
    • In case you missed it, last week the county publicly presented findings from an investigation into the error that left independent and unaffiliated voters off November’s poll books. After the report, some residents called for greater accountability and noted it fell short of addressing problems that could happen again.
    • A Democratic campaign manager was charged last week in Chester County for allegedly filing fraudulent nomination petitions in the 2024 primary race for auditor general, including the forged signatures of a Chester County judge, Coatesville city council members, and the West Goshen Township supervisor.

    💡 Community News

    • The Winter Olympics are underway, bringing curling back to the global spotlight and a familiar face along with it. Taylor Anderson-Heide, who’s competing for Team USA tomorrow night, trained at the Philadelphia Curling Club in Paoli and graduated from Marple Newtown High School. Planning to catch the action? Here’s a primer to the sport.
    • A Downingtown dog involved in four attacks since 2023, including one that seriously injured a neighbor’s 4-year-old son, was euthanized last week after the case escalated to district court. The owner has several other dogs who’ve been accused of being aggressive, leaving the boy’s parents frustrated that additional action hasn’t been taken.
    • A Coatesville couple has been found guilty of third-degree murder in the death of their 8-year-old son, who died from ingesting fentanyl, morphine, and cocaine. Mousa Hawa, 43, and Holly Back, 42, were arrested in June 2024 after an investigation found drugs and drug paraphernalia near their son’s body.
    • A Massachusetts man was arrested and charged last week after an alleged armed robbery at the Santander Bank in London Grove Township. Nicholas Casaburri, 44, is accused of taking $11,350 before fleeing in a vehicle and eventually crashing on Clay Creek Road, where he was apprehended by state police. Casaburri’s charges include robbery, fleeing and alluding, and aggravated assault.
    • The former owner of Malvern furniture store M. Kaplan Interiors was recently sentenced to six to 23 months in prison and required to pay back over $530,000 in restitution for defrauding dozens of customers. Matthew Kaplan, 37, of Rydal, previously pleaded guilty to deceptive business practices and other charges for allegedly never fulfilling paid furniture orders.
    • Heads up for drivers: PennDot has approved a new four-way stop at the South Valley Road and East and West Circular Avenues intersection in Tredyffrin Township. Work to install the stop signs and road markings is expected to take place this spring.
    • Last week, Kennett Square borough council passed a resolution declaring a phorid fly infestation and hydrogen sulfide emissions emergency, noting they are dangerous to public health and the local economy. The council addressed the phorid fly issue in 2024, resulting in a quarantine order. The borough is now urging state and federal agencies to fund mitigation research and implement additional emergency steps to address the issues that impact mushroom farming.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Reminder for families: Most schools are closed Monday for Presidents’ Day and a few districts — Great Valley, Tredyffrin/Easttown, and Unionville-Chadds Ford — won’t have classes Tuesday in observance of Lunar New Year.
    • Students at Phoenixville Area High School staged a walkout Friday to protest ICE actions. A district spokesperson told NBC10 that with the help of staff and law enforcement, the district “monitored and supervised the walkout” and that students returned to class afterward.
    • Phoenixville Area School District is hosting a kindergarten information night on Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Phoenixville Area Early Learning Center.
    • Tredyffrin/Easttown School District will form a redistricting steering committee this spring as it gears up to make changes to its elementary school boundaries ahead of Bear Hill Elementary opening next summer. Applications for the committee are expected to open in April.
    • Coatesville Area School District middle school students are set to benefit from a new initiative at West Chester University that will work with seventh and eighth graders through their first year of college. The seven-year program is being supported by a $10.26 million federal grant and is aimed at boosting graduation rates, preparing students for college, and developing “essential” skills. The grant is expected to help more than 1,800 students, including in the Chester and William Penn School Districts.
    • Last week, Kennett Consolidated School District released a draft of its Comprehensive School Counseling Plan for 2026 through 2029, which would replace the guidance counseling model with a new one requiring more data-focused planning and outcome measurement. Changes include renaming guidance counselors as school counselors and hiring one elementary counselor next school year, followed by a second counselor the following year. Families can provide feedback through March 3.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • A new bagel shop is opening in Phoenixville on Saturday. Street Cart Bagels, which took over the former Boston Market at 240 Nutt Rd., specializes in malt-boiled, slow fermented bagels, which are available as singles or by the half-dozen or dozen. It also offers bagel sandwiches, melts, fish salads, and coffee. Street Cart is cashless and accepts credit and debit cards as well as mobile wallet payments.
    • A new jazz spot is officially opening next week. Andrea’s Jazz Cafe, located at 236 E. Lincoln Highway in Coatesville, is hosting its grand opening on Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m.
    • Victory Brewing Company has teamed up with Visit Philadelphia to launch a new beer celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Philly First is a crisp, 4.8% ABV ale with notes of citrus, floral, tropical fruit, and pine. The Downingtown-based brewery will offer it in its taprooms starting Sunday, including in Kennett Square and Parkesburg. It will then be available at other bars and liquor stores starting around mid-March.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🌿 Garden Glow: Explore Longwood Gardens’ conservatories and Main Fountain Garden after hours when they’ll be lit in ways that show off sometimes overlooked features. ⏰ Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Feb. 13-March 8, 5-10 p.m. 💵 $15-$25 for members, $25-$45 for non-members 📍 Longwood Gardens

    🎙️ America’s Sweethearts: The Andrews Sisters-inspired swing band will transport listeners back in time. ⏰ Sunday, Feb. 15, 4 p.m. 💵 $46-$60 📍 Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, West Chester

    🎶 Ruben Studdard: The American Idol winner and Grammy-nominated singer is bringing “The Masterpiece Tour” to town. ⏰ Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m. 💵 $42-$96 📍 Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, West Chester

    🏡 On the Market

    A three-bedroom waterfront townhome in Berwyn

    The living room has vaulted ceilings and a fireplace.

    Located in the Daylesford Lake community in Berwyn, this three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom, end-unit townhouse provides waterfront views and outdoor living space thanks to a wraparound deck. The home’s first floor features an open-concept two-story foyer, living room, and dining room; an office; and an eat-in kitchen, complete with an island, quartz countertops, and a butler’s pantry. There’s also a first-floor primary suite with deck access, a sitting or office area, a bathroom with a double vanity, and two walk-in closets. There are two additional bedrooms upstairs, and a partially finished walk-out basement downstairs. There’s an open house Friday from noon to 2 p.m.

    See more photos of the townhouse here.

    Price: $895,000 | Size: 3,658 SF | Acreage: 0.06

    🗞️ 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.

  • A West grad’s ode to Eagles tailgates | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    A West grad’s ode to Eagles tailgates | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

    A West grad’s latest project explores the religious-like experience of Eagles fandom. We take a peek. Also this week, we’re following the latest on the Kibitz Room closure, plus the former Lone Star Steakhouse is one step closer to being demolished.

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    A West grad explores the religious-like experience of Eagles fandom

    A photo of Eagles fans tailgating from Mike Cordisco’s “Sermon on the Lot.”

    The Eagles aren’t the reigning Super Bowl champs anymore, but a new photo project by a Cherry Hill native explores a question about our fandom: Is it akin to religious fervor?

    Photographer Mike Cordisco set out to document Eagles fans and their tailgates, going beyond the stereotypical rowdy image and leaning into the religious-like experience of “sacred Sundays.” He’s compiled them into a 98-page book called Sermon on the Lot, which showcases photos of fans outside the Linc between 2018 and 2025.

    “On Sundays, you go to Mass,” Cordisco said. “But in Philly, you go to the parking lot and tailgate an Eagles game.”

    Some of Cordisco’s work is on display at Unique Photo in Center City through mid-March.

    Read more about the West grad and what inspired his latest project.

    💡 Community News

    • Reminder for residents: The extended deadline to pay the first half of this year’s township tax bills is next Wednesday.
    • A Cherry Hill man is mourning the death of his father, who died in a fire at their Main Street home on Jan. 31. In the aftermath, Hazem Abdalla, 27, wants people to remember his father, Eid, for his life, not his death. Eid was born in Egypt, where he started a construction company before moving to New Jersey for his sons to get a better education. Eid, who was 69, had previously worked as a taxi driver and a chef at the former Cherry Hill Diner. A crowdfunding campaign has raised more than $40,000 for funeral and rebuilding costs. The cause of the fire, which also damaged a neighbor’s house, is still under investigation. (NJ Pen and Fox 29)
    • After being empty for nearly 20 years, the former Lone Star Steakhouse building on Route 38 is closer to being demolished. A court recently ruled that the derelict building qualified as abandoned and that an uncontested foreclosure could move forward. The roughly 5,700-square-foot building has been vacant since 2007. (Courier Post)
    • Skechers is gearing up for a mid-spring opening at Garden State Pavilions, a company spokesperson confirmed. The shoe and apparel retailer will open between Five Below and Staples, taking over 8,500 square feet.
    • The Cherry Hill Fire Department is hosting a child safety seat event on Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Deer Park Station.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • About 500 East students walked out of school Friday morning as part of a student-organized ICE protest that lasted about one hour. “We need to make sure that ICE understands that we’re watching, we’re listening, and we’re not going to stop fighting back until they leave the innocent people in our communities alone,” one of the organizers said. (Eastside)
    • A settlement agreement has been reached between Cherry Hill Public Schools and the Zionist Organization of America, which filed a complaint in June 2024 on behalf of an East student. In the complaint, the Zionist Organization alleged that the school district retaliated against the Jewish student, who reported alleged antisemitic harassment. Under the settlement, the student’s disciplinary record is being expunged. (Philadelphia Jewish Exponent)
    • Reminder for families: Monday is a makeup day for one of last month’s snow closures. There’s no school for students on Tuesday for the Lunar New Year, but teachers will report for an in-service day. See the district’s full calendar here.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Two weeks after The Kibitz Room abruptly closed, former owner Brandon Parish said he is working to reopen the beloved deli “under a new entity.” An attorney for the deli, now owned by Brandon’s mom Sandy Parish, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on Friday.
    • Fast-casual takeout eatery Rice & Spud Station opened last week at 404 Marlton Pike East in Saw Mill Village. The Halal eatery serves loaded baked potatoes, rice bowls, and desserts.
    • In case you missed it, Bahama Breeze’s parent company last week announced the upcoming closure of all the remaining tropical restaurant’s outposts by early April, including at the Cherry Hill Mall.
    • Cherry Hill real estate developer Shamikh Kazmi is looking to expand his Yum Grills brand to 200 locations, largely in the Philadelphia area, with around 15 slated to open in the next few months. The expansion of the new fast-food eatery that serves smash burgers, cheesesteaks, and loaded french fries is expected to cost $60 million. It’s unclear if any locations will be in town. (Philadelphia Business Journal)
    • The owners of Old World Italian eatery Il Villaggio are gearing up to open Duo Restaurant & Bar in Westmont this month.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🏺 Galentine’s Pottery Class: Try your hand at ceramics at this intro class, which also includes sparkling cider, for anyone 13 and older. ⏰ Friday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m. 💵 $125 📍Hugs Ceramics

    💃 Valentine’s Social Dance: If dancing is more your style, this event kicks off with a group class before segueing into a social dance with a DJ and light snacks. ⏰ Friday, Feb. 13, 7-10 p.m. 💵 $20 📍Storm BDC

    ❤️ Valen-Wine Celebration: Yogi Berra Lodge No. 3015 is hosting a Valentine’s-themed event complete with dinner, dessert, and wine. ⏰ Friday, Feb. 13, 7-11 p.m. 💵 $45 📍American Legion Post #372

    🫖 Tea Party Fundraiser: Monday is the deadline to register for this library fundraiser, which includes afternoon tea, a Jane Austen movie, and a fascinator make-and-take. ⏰ Sunday, March 1, 1-4 p.m. 💵 $35 📍Cherry Hill Public Library

    🏡 On the Market

    A four-bedroom home with an indoor hot tub

    The home’s two-story family room has a hot tub, wet bar, and ample windows.

    Located in the Ridings of Fox Run, this four-bedroom home has had just one owner since it was built in 1978. Among its most unique features is a two-story family room with an eight-seat hot tub and a wet bar. A second-floor library looks onto the airy space. There’s also a dining room, a family room with a fireplace, and an eat-in kitchen with granite countertops on the first floor. Upstairs, the primary suite has skylights, a gas fireplace, and a jacuzzi. Outside, the wooded property has a deck and a koi pond.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $879,000 | Size: 3,467 SF

    🗞️ 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.