A school’s fight over Black history | Morning Newsletter
And Philly’s most iconic dishes.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Happy Tuesdee. It’s shaping up to be a lovely spring morning.
We’re starting with a look at the Cherry Hill school board and its debate over the possibility of ending its African American history requirement.
And, our food team has cultivated a list of the most iconic Philadelphia dishes of all time.
Plus, the sheriff’s office will undergo a shakeup, and more news of the day.
— Tommy Rowan (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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In the 2021-22 school year, Cherry Hill was the first New Jersey district to mandate a Black history class to graduate.
It made national headlines.
Five years later, the board has debated whether the course should be dropped as a requirement in light of budget problems in the largest South Jersey school system.
And while officials have assured the community that the course will remain part of the curriculum, the debate highlights the difficult choices that districts are facing during a tough budget year.
Melanie Burney has the full report from South Jersey.
If you want to keep it super local, sign up here for our weekly Cherry Hill newsletter, which is a free and easy-to-read guide to everything from local headlines to weekend plans.
And next week we’re launching a daily South-Jersey-centric newsletter that is part of our expanded reporting across the region. Sign up here.
We’re counting down the 76 most iconic Philadelphia dishes all week.
Today, we’re highlighting entries 76 through 55.
And throughout the week we’ll be counting down to No. 1.
We asked ourselves: What are the foods that have most shaped the culinary scene in Philadelphia?
That’s what the food team has set out to answer.
So check out our picks, starting at No. 76.
What you should know today
Sheriff Rochelle Bilal announced a major restructuring of her office to reduce a problem she previously claimed she’d fixed. Some details aren’t public.
Fifteen people were arrested on Sunday during Pride events in the Gayborhood, officials said. The police response drew criticism from residents over how crowd control was handled.
District Attorney Larry Krasner publicly criticized Mayor Cherelle Parker on Monday over what he said was an inadequate budget. Krasner’s televised appeal came as rumors swirl that he may run for mayor next year.
The Bucks County district attorney has sued the makers of Roblox, which he said had allowed sexual predators to exploit children.
A body believed to be that of a swimmer who went missing in the Delaware River was found by police after it washed ashore on Monday in Palmyra Township, Burlington County.
Former President Joe Biden made a surprise appearance at the annual Stonewall Awards in Philadelphia on Sunday, delivering a 20-minute speech to a packed crowd in Center City.
FIFA Fan Fest opens Thursday and will feature music, food, shopping, and a showing of World Cup games. There will also be transportation headaches.
Quote of the day
After 50 years of service, this Old City Italian restaurant remains a retro experience. It’s still a unique and worthy place to dine, restaurant critic Craig LaBan writes.
🧠 Trivia time
What famous boy band member was recently in Delaware and ate at a Craig LaBan-approved restaurant?
A) Justin Timberlake
B) Harry Styles
C) AJ McLean
D) Nick Jonas
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🎶 Harmonizing. Some Main Line dads started getting together in the ’90s to do some old-fashioned harmonizing. Their fanbase is now international.
🎭 Recognizing. Amina Robinson made history as the first Black woman to win a Barrymore for directing a musical. And now she’s going to lead Theatre Horizon.
Translating. The colorful markings on Philly-area streets and sidewalks might look like gibberish, but they are the language of utility companies.
🏀 Cautiously optimistic about: In his first news conference since taking the Sixers’ top job, Mike Gansey didn’t sound like he planned on undertaking a major roster overhaul.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: What store recently ditched an unpopular section.
LIVE OF WEB
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Matthew Zipin, who solved Monday’s anagram: Haverford College. Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges have long had a partnership that allows students on both campuses to take classes at the other.
Photo of the day
Urban Outfitters says it plans to hire 1,000 workers in the Philly region. Most will be added at a new distribution site in the suburbs.
👋 Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. Paola Pérez has you covered tomorrow.
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