The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Welcome to the weekend! Itโs sunny, but still a little chilly, with a high near 41.
Today, weโre highlighting a South Jersey Eagles fanโs hunt for the man who complimented her in passing at a recent game. The internet is eager to help.
Plus, thereโs news about New Jerseyโs mysterious drones, Philly judges publicly addressing โsystemic failuresโ in Sheriff Rochelle Bilalโs office, and a look back at all times the Sixers have tried to build their own arena before.
โ Erin Reynolds (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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What you should know today
Three people, including two 14-year-old boys, were shot next to the ice rink and Christmas Village at Philadelphia City Hall following an argument, police said.
Chinatown landmark Sang Kee Peking Duck House is shut down by the city over a mysterious steam issue.
The White House and FBI say New Jerseyโs string of mystery drones might actually be manned aircraft. Some locals remain unconvinced.
City judges took a public step this week toward reforming Phillyโs Sheriffโs Office. They filed a court order demanding Sheriff Rochelle Bilal immediately address the security crisis in Philadelphiaโs courthouses. If Bilal doesnโt fix the problem, she could be held in contempt.
The Sixersโ road toward independence has been lined with more than a few failed bids. Hereโs a timeline of the teamโs unsuccessful attempts to build a home court.
Phillyโs hybrid-work wars arenโt over yet. Battles wage beyond City Hall. More employers have brought workers back to the office with increasing frequency this year, and they hope to continue the trend next year.
The Mazzoni Center is laying off employees a month after it told a federal judge it was on the brink of bankruptcy.
Willie Hunter Sr., the politically connected director of the Camden Parking Authority, has been charged with domestic violence. The victim told police that Hunter attacked her as she tried to end their relationship.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is term-limited from running for reelection next year. Meet the 10 candidates looking to fill the role.
Sundayโs Eagles-Steelers game is a matchup of two of the NFLโs best teams and most ardent fan bases. We reflect on footballโs historic grip on Pennsylvania.
Some dry towns in South Jersey are ending their bans on liquor sales. The communities hope it will boost downtown businesses.
Philly muralists, grab your paintbrushes. The Phillies are soliciting pitches for a new mural above Citizen Bank Parkโs Ashburn Alley.
๐ค Letโs pass the mic to reporter Jason Nark.
Even after a win, compliments are hard to come by at an Eagles game.
Thatโs why, when Brenna Collier was walking through the parking lots after the Eaglesโ ho-hum 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers last Sunday, she was taken aback by the compliment thrown her way by a man.
โIt was something like โyouโre the most beautiful girl Iโve seen all day. I just wanted you to know,โโ Collier said.
She decided not to approach him, but after she returned home, she wrote a few paragraphs about her missed connection, and posted them to the Philadelphia Eagles Fans Facebook Group.
When she woke up Monday, her post was blowing up. Men were ready to claim the compliment. Women were cheering her on. Some commenters urged the Kelce brothers to take the case.
Collier isnโt expecting the man to materialize, but you never know. She goes to a lot of games and one antidote to dating apps is finding something you love, and, perhaps, someone you could love, through your passions.
Go Birds. โ Jason Nark
Keep reading for more about how the Eagles fan community is rallying behind Collier.
Small businesses are the heartbeat of Philadelphiaโs neighborhoods. But what do you do if your small business struggles to secure the financing it needs to survive and grow?
As Inquirer guest columnist Varsovia Fernandez, CEO of the Pennsylvania Community Development Financial Institution Network, writes, this is particularly hard for entrepreneurs in Black and brown communities.
One remedy? โThe Philadelphia Growth, Resilience, Independence, and Tenacity (GRIT) Fund,โ Fernandez said.
Launched in 2021 by the Pennsylvania CDFI Network and the Greater Philadelphia Financial Services Leadership Coalition, with the backing of 15 regional banks, the $100 million initiative empowers Black and brown entrepreneurs by investing in the 11 regional CDFIs that serve them.
โThe partnership isnโt just confronting systemic barriers, it is actively dismantling them,โ she writes.
โ Pop quiz
Despite community outrage, Delaware County voted to increase property taxes by how much in the new year?
A) 14%
B) 6%
C) 17%
D) 23%
Think you know? Check your answer.
๐งฉ Unscramble the anagram
Hint: This wealthy draft dodger may or may not have donated an aircraft designed by the Wright brothers to the Franklin Institute.
CORNBALL GROVELLED VERGED
Email us if you know the answer. Weโll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Stacey Stone who correctly guessed Fridayโs answer: Hawthornes. The beery brunch spot in South Philly also survived a fire in 2014.
Some good news for hikers, runners, and walkers! The Wissahickon finally has a pedestrian footbridge.
This week, Friends of the Wissahickon unveiled a 200-foot-long wooden bridge that connects visitors to the Valley Green area of the park without having to walk alongside cars. The areaโs original stream bank and wooden boardwalk collapsed in 2014 after a major storm.
The project is the parkโs largest capital investment to date, and โit feels great,โ said Ruffian Tittmann, the groupโs executive director.
Somewhere on the internet in Philly
In the words of Reddit user Devin1405: โBabe wake up, SEPTAโs redesigned app just dropped.โ
I, like many others, lost all my saved routes upon updating. I guess that means itโs time for a fresh start.
๐ Have a wonderful weekend!
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