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How to help Philly businesses bounce back | Morning Newsletter

Also, Dolly’s here.

Visitors wearing masks look at the Liberty Bell on Monday, April 18, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Visitors wearing masks look at the Liberty Bell on Monday, April 18, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.Read moreJose F. Moreno/ Staff Photographer

    The Morning Newsletter

    Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Today’s my kinda day in the 70s, and it’s time to get into weekend mode.

We’re talking about roadblocks to businesses bouncing back, and we have the latest on the Temple University rankings debacle.

Bonus: Dolly Parton, who never met a sparkly outfit she did not like, graced a Wilmington library with her presence.

If you see this 🔒 in today’s newsletter, that means we’re highlighting our exclusive journalism. You need to be a subscriber to read these stories.

— Ashley Hoffman (@_ashleyhoffman, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

🎤 And now I’m passing the mic to our reporter Erin Arvedlund, who wrote today’s top story:

Center City District keeps its finger on the pulse of the economy in Philly. The business climate’s almost back to normal, although in-person workers haven’t come back. Restaurants and cultural institutions have reopened.

But a police presence needs to be visible for visitors and tourists to return in force. Also, City Council has to take up the mantle of tax reform in order for small businesses to thrive.

My take is that business leaders are keeping their fingers crossed that the mayor and City Council do the right things to propel Philly out of its molasses growth and into a high-growth metro region. Instead of just dividing the pie into smaller pieces, let’s “grow” the pie so more people benefit.

Keep reading for more on the key to rebuilding.

What you should know today

  1. Children in Philadelphia middle schools — and some elementary schools — will now be subject to periodic weapons scans.

  2. Ex-Temple employees were sentenced to probation for fraud tied to business school rankings.

  3. A drug firm in Bucks County that sold FDA-approved generics now faces charges of misleading the agency. 🔒

  4. If you’re voting by mail in the 2022 Pa. primary, it’s best to send your ballot out ASAP.

  5. Cape May hotels are modernizing while staying faithful to the Victorian history of the place.

  6. Patron saint of much that is good Dolly Parton hit Delaware, and she’s having quite the week.

  7. Only Joel Embiid can save the 76ers, David Murphy writes. 🔒

  8. Local Coronavirus numbers: Track the latest COVD-19 data.

🧠 Philly Trivia Time 🧠

What was the team that pulled a stunt to convince readers of The Inquirer that Taco Bell had bought the Liberty Bell in the ’90s?

A) Live Mas LLC.

B) PainePR

C) For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway

D) The Crunchwrap Supremes

Find out the answer.

Mike Klein wrote about the story. Also, in his weekly newsletter, he highlights the best places to eat in Philly and includes readers’ food photos. I do hope you subscribe to Let’s Eat.

🧩 Unscramble the Anagram 🧩

CORI NEWS

He wore number 20 for the 76ers. Hint: 👂+🤢+⛄

Think you know? Send your guess our way at morningnewsletter@inquirer.com. We’ll give a shoutout to a reader at random who answers correctly. Today’s shoutout goes to Deborah Davis, who correctly guessed Rittenhouse Square as yesterday’s answer.

Photo of the day

👋 See you Sunday. I’ll be enjoying the sunshine of Philly’s L-O-V-E.