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, Philly. It’s official: One of the region’s longest snow-cover streaks is over, just in time for a possible weekend storm.
Across Philadelphia, churches and neighborhood groups are preparing to confront U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement if the federal agency undertakes a large-scale deployment of agents.
And could city bars open stay past 2 a.m.? Go inside the new push for late-night hangout spots ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Philadelphia has so far not been the target of a massive ICE operation like the one seen in Minneapolis this winter. It’s not clear if or when a bigger push will come from President Donald Trump’s administration.
Immigration advocates aren’t waiting around. From block leaders to religious communities, Philly groups are preparing to confront federal immigration agents pursuing their undocumented neighbors for arrest.
A Presbyterian church in Spring Garden, for instance, created what its congregants call Fourth Amendment areas to shield immigrant families in case ICE enters the building, while a Center City synagogue ordered 300 whistles to be able to quickly alert neighbors to ICE presence. Know-your-rights trainings and ICE-watch chats are active across the city.
“While you’re here, you’re safe, is what we want to assert,” the Rev. Peter Ahn, pastor of the Spring Garden church, told The Inquirer.
Immigration reporter Jeff Gammage has the story.
In other federal government news:
The Trump administration has appealed a federal judge’s order requiring that the National Park Service restore all the slavery-related exhibits it abruptly removed last month from the President’s House. Another lawsuit filed Tuesday by conservation and history groups is challenging censorship at national parks.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are taking a toll on thousands of low-income Pennsylvanians.
Sen. Dave McCormick says Chester County’s recent pollbook error proves the need for national election rules. But the GOP proposal wouldn’t have solved the county’s problems.
Philadelphia is not known as a late-night hotspot, with closing time at 2 a.m. and crowds diminished since the pandemic.
🍻 That’s a potential problem for the estimated 500,000 World Cup fans visiting this summer, many of whom will be used to later last calls. A handful of matches set to broadcast in from other North American host cities won’t even start until midnight.
🍻 Some hospitality organizations are proposing a solution: Let Philly bars stay open until 4 a.m. for the duration of the tournament.
🍻 It’s been done on a limited basis before, during the 2016 Democratic National Convention. And it’s not just a chance to earn more money, but to “prove that 4 a.m. nightlife can work in Philadelphia,” as one sports bar owner put it.
Will legislation meet the moment? Reporter Henry Savage has more.
More hospitality news: Inquirer staffers tried R&D’s new Philly-themed cocktail menu, from the HitchBOT to the Crum Bum. Their (largely positive) review includes the word “wackadoodle.” Plus, Sheetz could soon stake a claim in rival Wawa’s home, Delaware County.
What you should know today
The Diocese of Camden has agreed to help pay $180 million to more than 300 people who said they were sexually abused by clergy members.
A former Philly drug kingpin, once ordered to life behind bars, had his sentence reduced to 25 years after federal laws changed.
New Jersey prosecutors are dropping racketeering charges against Democratic power broker George E. Norcross III, ending a case framed as a reckoning.
Sue Altman, the former state director for Sen. Andy Kim, was thrown out of a hearing as a critic of Norcross in 2019. Now, she’s running for Congress.
City Council members on Tuesday grilled school district officials on their plan to close 20 schools. One on the list is William T. Tilden Middle School in Southwest Philadelphia, despite getting extra resources thanks to the soda tax.
NJ Transit commuters out of Philly can expect modified schedules and fewer trains for next four weeks. The agency recommends working from home.
The Broad Street Diner’s days may be coming to an end, as plans for a six-story Hyatt Studios hotel appear to be moving forward. And redevelopment is coming to a former factory in East Kensington after years of delay.
CBS killed Stephen Colbert’s interview with a Democratic candidate. So why was Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro allowed on the show last month?
Quote of the day
The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. helped set the stage for modern-day American politics, columnist Jenice Armstrong wrote last fall. After the civil rights leader died Tuesday at 84, Armstrong reflected again, noting that Jackson’s death during Black History Month “only magnifies the sense of loss.”
Plus: See images of Jackson’s visits to Philadelphia dating back to the 1970s.
🧠 Trivia time
After 96 years, Pat’s King of Steaks is changing how it makes cheesesteaks. What’s different?
A) The cheese is melted into the meat on the grill
B) All rolls are now seeded
C) The shop is introducing pepperoni as a topping
D) There’s now a vegan option
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re ...
🪑 Anticipating: The return of Major League Wrestling to 2300 Arena this summer.
🎸 Queueing for: “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour tickets for the Philly show.
✨ Dazzled by: Isabeau Levito’s figure skating costumes over the years as well as her Olympic short program Tuesday.
🍔 Eager to try: Northern Liberties’ TikTok-famous Dominican smashburgers topped with queso frito.
🇺🇸 Considering: Why this South Jersey guy became the face of ICE resistance.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Former name of the Eagles’ training facility, the _ Complex
ACORN AVE
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Devynn Chester, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Jill Scott. The North Philly singer just made her debut on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series.
Photo of the day
Keep going, Mason! We’re about halfway to the weekend. ’Til then, be well.
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