💰 Be the mayor for a day | Morning Newsletter
And Turning Point USA in Philly’s suburbs.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Morning, Philly. Record warmth is possible this week in the region — we’re talking high temps near 80 today — and may continue into the weekend.
How would you spend $7 billion? Play our new game to be the mayor and see how your decisions impact the city.
And there’s now a “Club America” at Great Valley High School. Turning Point USA says interest in the youth-focused chapters has grown since founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Plus, clergy members were arrested at a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and more news of the day.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Any budget is a manifestation of the budget maker’s values. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s proposed $7 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-27, for instance, aims to bring “economic mobility” and “self-sufficiency for all.”
💰 Now, we’re electing you the mayor for a day, and asking you to tell us what your ideal budget would look like.
💰 Use our interactive tool to map out the services you would provide and how to pay for them — all while keeping in mind how your decisions affect your approval rating among constituents.
💰 Would you prioritize arts, culture, and recreation, or infrastructure improvements? Can you spare the money to continue the city’s twice-weekly trash pickup pilot, or extend its reduced public transit fare pilot program? And if you plan to spend more than allotted, how will you raise revenue to close the gap?
Can you balance the budget? Play our game to find out.
Further reading: See the methodology behind our Philadelphia city budget game, plus how to get involved in the real budget process.
Turning Point USA’s youth-focused arm is expanding in high schools across the country, with a swell of new Club America chapters since founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September.
The conservative organization encourages young people to mobilize around issues like patriotism and gun rights. It counts almost 40 chapters at Eastern Pennsylvania high schools, including Great Valley High School in Chester County and Penncrest High School in Delaware County — though the local total might not be as high as the group claims.
But as it grows in popularity, the group is also drawing opposition.
Suburban education reporter Maddie Hanna has the story.
In other school news: According to the Philadelphia School District’s plan, the once-booming Wagner Middle School in West Oak Lane is now facing closure. Read the last in our series telling the story of each of the 18 schools slated to close.
What you should know today
Clergy members were arrested at the ICE garage in Center City on Monday after attempting to block vehicles from leaving the agency headquarters.
The Delaware River Bridge, which connects Bucks County with New Jersey, will be replaced with $600 million in federal funding.
Legislation aimed at strengthening protections for Philly renters passed through a key City Council committee Monday — for the second time, after landlords sued Council and stalled the bill.
The Willingboro Municipal Utility Authority in Burlington County has sued six companies, accusing them of contaminating its water supply with toxic chemical compounds.
Cell phones around Philadelphia got notifications of an emergency order being lifted, prompting confusion. It stemmed from crowds at a South Jersey speedway.
More than 190 DHL employees in the Philly area could soon get more protections against artificial intelligence in a new union contract that also bans self-driving cars and raises wages.
Actor Ben Affleck was seen at Luna’s Mexican Grill in Swarthmore on Friday with his teen, following a tour of Swarthmore College.
The Inquirer wants to know the best and weirdest food you’ve brought into Citizens Bank Park (like, um, bags of spaghetti?). Tell us here for a chance to be featured in a future story.
Quote of the day
Peco, citing the need for significant upgrades to meet demand and increase reliability of the grid, filed a request Monday seeking $520 million in rate increases for electric and natural gas delivery in 2027. If approved, a typical residential electric customer’s bill would rise by $20.08, or 12.5%, per month.
🧠 Trivia time
Comcast Spectacor announced Monday that it will pull out of its ownership of which professional sports team at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season?
A) Philadelphia Union
B) Philadelphia Waterdogs
C) Philadelphia Wings
D) Philadelphia Phoenix
Think you know? Check your answer.
What and whom we’re …
🥙 Mapping: The best hummus in Philadelphia.
💫 Meeting: The Ambler man who hunts meteorites for a living.
🎸 Buying: Tickets to see Pavement and Kurt Vile headline the “Make the World Better” concert weekend.
🍴 Noting: These 14 spots for Easter brunch in Philly and the suburbs.
🏛️ Considering: What happens to a city’s arts ecosystem when an institution disappears?
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Community in Cape May County
EARTH TERMS
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Chimdi N. Ginsburg Tuffs, who solved Monday’s anagram: El Niño. Thanks to the warming event brewing in the tropical Pacific, we can expect a strange winter in Philly and perhaps a quiet hurricane season.
Photo of the day
Enjoy the heat today. Sam has you covered with the news tomorrow. Till we meet again in your inbox, be well.
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