The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Good morning.
Wild weather continues to leave its mark on nearly every part of the United States. On the bright side, Philly-area cherry blossoms still appear to be on schedule. Here’s when we can expect the peak bloom period.
To bail or not to bail on a multifamily vacation? The Inquirer group chat helps a reader navigate a potential deal-breaker.
But first, we’re covering Philadelphia’s lawsuit against a gun manufacturer, where and why the Roots Picnic is moving, and our report card for this week in Philly news.
P.S. A link was broken in yesterday’s newsletter. Here’s the story: Philly’s school board got an earful on 18 planned school closings.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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What you should know today
The Philadelphia School District is facing a $300 million budget deficit. Its proposed budget calls for significant classroom and central office cuts, including the reassignment of 340 school-based employees.
Philadelphia police pulled the body of an unidentified woman from a lake in FDR Park on Friday afternoon.
The Roots Picnic will be at Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park this year, after heavy rains resulted in muddy grounds, delays, and complaints last year.
Local Planned Parenthood clinics expect to lose $3.1 million in Medicaid revenue this year. There’s a push for Philly to help fund the safety-net care.
Philadelphia sued Glock Inc., alleging that the firearms company contributed to the city’s gun violence crisis through deceptive marketing practices that target young people.
A copy of the Declaration of Independence handwritten by Thomas Jefferson will soon be on display at the American Philosophical Society.
Philly’s community composting program run by Parks and Rec is growing, with 23 active sites and plans for five to 10 more this year.
American Airlines is bringing back a direct flight from PHL to a Caribbean destination, just in time for the summer season.
Cleo Bagels has expanded in opening Little Bean, a coffee shop and bakery just one storefront over in West Philly. Also, Lillo’s Tomato Pies has opened a second location in Gloucester City.
Martha Stewart at the Flower Show, Aaron Nola stress spreading nationwide, and 600 tubs of mystery French onion dip are among the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.
Here’s the dilemma: We had talked to a family, let’s call them the Beechers, about sharing a big Shore house for a week. We get along great with the parents and our kids are friends. The Beechers mentioned this plan to another family we’re sort-of friends with, let’s call them the Smiths, and apparently sort-of invited them. We really get along with the Smith mother and their kids are great but … we do not get along with the dad who says whatever pops into his head and yells at his kids constantly for the smallest things. We’re not going to do it, we know that. The question is … do we tell the Beechers why or do we make up a “we decided to get a house on our own because maybe the grandparents are coming” type of excuse? — Barry unShore
To help, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss looped in life and culture reporters Amy Rosenberg and Mike Newall. They considered ways for Barry to avoid drama and preserve the fun, memorable spirit of summer through sincere honesty. “Shore houses are expensive. Time is precious,” Newall said.
Read my colleagues’ conversation here. And if you’d like advice (or just want to share your thoughts), we’re all ears. Email us here.
Elected officials recognize that housing affordability is a key issue. However, the effectiveness of federal legislation to tackle it is lacking, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson writes.
In this week’s Shackamaxon, Pearson unpacks the potential impact of federal, state, and local policies that may or may not ease this burden.
In related news: Mayor Cherelle L. Parker wants to bring a modular factory that builds housing to Philadelphia. A $10 million chunk of her latest budget proposal would help make it happen.
📍 Find the location
Think you know where this library is located? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets and places to the test. Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Go Birds
HUSTLER JAN
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Kathleen Paulmier, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. The world’s first medical school created exclusively to grant women medical degrees will be celebrated this weekend as part of the Philadelphia Historic District’s 52 Weeks of Firsts series.
Staff photographer Monica Herndon captured some stellar shots from the annual pond skimming event at Bear Creek Mountain Resort. More than 130 people signed up to try to skim all the way to the other side.
The key to crossing? Speed. “Wider skis help, and so does leaning back, keeping your ski tips up,” Herndon writes.
Somewhere on the internet in Philly
@milliephanatic’s compilation of “Random Philly things I love” reminded me of the fun instrument-themed parking decks near the Kimmel Center.
@phillyistheculture is coming for SEPTA and the transit system’s use of the word jawn on its signage: “Please stop misusing our words. It’s giving Delco copywriter.” We need transportation reporter Tom Fitzgerald to get the tea on who is crafting these saucy ads.
And take a moment to delight in this sweet story about ice cream bringing neighbors together. I agree — Philadelphia is unmatched.
👋🏽 Thanks for stopping by. Have a good day, and I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.
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