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 Friday, Philly.
Avelo Airlines provides the only scheduled passenger flights out of Delaware. Now, protesters are targeting the commercial airline because of its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport immigrants.
And it’s set to be a packed weekend of parades, races, and festivals with major traffic disruptions. Read on for a rundown of what to expect, and where.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
P.S. Friday means trivia. Our latest news quiz includes questions on a protest song, an Eagles-themed rideshare, and more.
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At Delaware’s major airport, activists have been raising awareness about Avelo’s contract with federal immigration authorities to charter flights of ICE deportees from the airline’s hub in Mesa, Ariz., to ICE processing centers or foreign countries.
They’re part of a national network called the “Coalition to Stop Avelo” directed at the Texas-based company, and are backed by some Democratic officials — including Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, who is personally boycotting the airline.
The action comes as President Donald Trump’s aggressive push to expel undocumented immigrants from the country has led to some being deported without court hearings.
Notable quote: “We don’t want to lose Avelo. But we hope they pull back from these deportations, which we are concerned are taking place without due process” by ICE and U.S. courts, one local protester told The Inquirer.
Reporter Joe DiStefano has the story.
In other federal policy news:
Philadelphia was among numerous cities, counties and states named to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security list of sanctuary jurisdictions Thursday evening, places the Trump administration says are “deliberately and shamefully” protecting undocumented immigrants and not helping ICE.
Penn Medicine will no longer provide gender-affirming surgery to patients under age 19, effective this week, citing new federal orders.
And Trump will return to Pennsylvania Friday for his first rally in the state since his reelection, speaking to steelworkers outside of Pittsburgh.
Philadelphia is hosting a whole bunch of outdoor events throughout the city this weekend for those brave enough to face Saturday’s likely storms. Among the gatherings heralding a new month:
🏳️🌈 Philly Pride March and Festival in Center City, with its 600-foot-long Pride flag
🎤 The Roots Picnic at the Mann Center, featuring a killer lineup of more than 40 acts
🚲 American Cancer Society Bike-A-Thon in Old City and Philly Run Fest in Fairmount Park
This weekend also marks the return of the beloved West Philly Porchfest, Wilmington’s Ladybug Festival, and plenty of other musical gigs, as well as the inaugural Philadelphia Death and Arts Festival.
All those events mean the city will be crowded. See the details about road closures and expected traffic delays.
What you should know today
In a daylight shooting outside a Wynnefield Heights hotel, at least two gunmen fired 40 shots at an SUV, but the driver escaped with only a graze wound, police said Thursday.
A prisoner escaped from officers at the Delaware County Courthouse in Media on Thursday morning but was taken back into custody within hours.
Investigators now believe five guns were fired into the crowd gathered at Lemon Hill on Memorial Day in a shooting that left two people dead and nine wounded.
Ahead of New Jersey’s primary election on June 10, see our guide to the 11 candidates running for governor. P.S. There’s still time to request a mail ballot.
Philadelphia City Council on Thursday approved a bill that will allow food trucks to park overnight near Drexel University. Council also introduced legislation to approve Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s plan to issue $800 million in city bonds for her signature housing initiative, with a catch.
The Lower Merion School District said on Thursday that an unknown number of “highly sensitive” documents were inadvertently published online.
The Philadelphia school board approved Early College Charter School to become the district’s first new charter since 2018, and approved a $4.7 billion budget for 2025-26.
Months after Whole Foods workers voted to unionize at one of the company’s Philly locations, those efforts could be at a standstill indefinitely.
The Philadelphia Inquirer wants to learn more about what types of things our readers do on the weekend, how you read or access news, and what types of Inquirer articles you’re reading. Fill out our quick survey to share your input and be entered to win a gift card.
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 why some Philadelphia buildings have their own zip codes, including what was once called the Wells Fargo Building. It’s now known by just its address after the bank vacated its offices there. But what has been consistent for decades is that the Beaux Arts structure is the sole occupant of 19109, spanning just one city block.
That’s probably because it used to get a ton of mail. Here’s the full explanation.
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
A baby was born two months after the Birds’ Super Bowl win, so her family gave her a name fit for an Eagles fan. What is it?
A) Barklee
B) Jalena
C) Sirianni
D) Swoop
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🎡 Remembering: When the city kicked off its second (and less successful) world’s fair on this week in Philly history.
🎺 Asking: What is so Philly about the Philly sound in jazz?
🎒 Noting: Curfews for teens in Jersey Shore towns.
🍖 Craving: This South Jersey BBQ gem that got its start at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
🪦 Considering: Philly’s history of careless cemetery removals.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: South Philly hotspot
BUCOLIC PIAZZA ILLS
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: Mann Center. A $70 million effort for a more beautiful Mann Center is underway. But ahead of the arts hub’s 50th anniversary, it’s about more than just rock shows and orchestra concerts.
Photo of the day
Sunny days are ahead. Thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer.
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