Children still faced abuse at Devereaux | Morning Newsletter
How Trump can still be convicted, from a local lawmaker on the case.
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 from the Inquirer newsroom.
First: Our reporters have found that since July 2018, Devereaux Behavioral Health staffers have beat, humiliated, and tormented at least 18 children at the institution’s three Chester County campuses alone.
Then: We needed to speak to the Pennsylvania impeachment manager again for an update, On the topic of accountability, she had much to share. Here’s how Donald Trump can still be convicted, from the local lawmaker on the case.
And: A Philly private school was thrilled to secure COVID-19 vaccine doses for its teachers, the next group eligible for vaccines. Then its clinic was canceled for violating restrictions.
— Ashley Hoffman (@_ashleyhoffman, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
Seven months ago, we published an investigation into Devereaux Behavioral Health, which specializes in caring for children with intellectual disabilities, mental disorders, and trauma, detailing the sexual abuse of children by staffers entrusted with their residential treatment.
Exposure of these numerous incidents of abuse, recalled in searing detail, led the Philadelphia-area company to pledge reforms. In a new special report, reporters found that since July 2018 staffers beat, humiliated, and tormented at least 18 children at the institution’s three Chester County campuses alone. Some staffers, who are legally obligated to report incidents they witness, kept silent. Devereux’s VP acknowledges there have been many staff arrests, but said the company finds more misconduct because of its extensive video surveillance system.
For months, reporters Barbara Laker and Wendy Ruderman reviewed hundreds of pages of documents and interviewed scores of children, staffers, and officials at Devereux to assemble this wrenching story.
Trump can still be convicted now that he’s out of office. We’re back with one of the impeachment managers, Montgomery County Rep. Madeleine Dean, for a heart-to-heart.
She’ll be making the case that Trump incited an insurrection against Congress. Along with eight Democratic colleagues, she recently descended on the Senate to make the impeachment article charging Trump official. The trial’s happening next week, and Republicans are already objecting. That’s what Dean’s preparing for. Reporter Jonathan Tamari nabbed her for a quick back-and-forth when she discussed how Trump can still be impeached. She talks about the stakes of what happens next.
“It defies logic, it defies the Constitution to say you can’t go after a former official, a former president, for a crime or set of crimes committed in the waning days of his term because he’s now out of office. Otherwise what we’re saying is you can go on a crime spree at the end of your term, in fact you can attempt a coup and see if it works out for you, and you won’t be accountable.”
Here’s how she’ll play a significant role.
Helpful COVID-19 Resources
Here are the updated coronavirus case numbers as COVID-19 continues to spread across the region.
What are the first symptoms of the coronavirus and what are the differences between COVID-19, the flu, a common cold, and allergies?
We’re answering some of the most common vaccine questions in our updated FAQ.
What you need to know today
A Philly private school managed to get a hold of vaccines for its teachers, the next category of eligible vaccine groups. Then its clinic was canceled for violating restrictions.
FBI agents did not recover House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s laptop from the Harrisburg woman charged with playing a role in its theft during the Capitol riot, the woman’s lawyer said Tuesday.
That elusive phenomenon, the snow, has eluded us again. Will Philly get any to break the streak? It’s our last chance for snow, this Sunday.
SEPTA’s Chestnut Hill West Line is still suspended with no timeline on its return.
Ocean City landmark Gillian’s Wonderland Pier is in foreclosure.
Two CBS execs have been put on leave after the Los Angeles Times report that they allegedly “cultivated a hostile work environment that included bullying female managers and blocking efforts to retain Black journalists.” One was alleged to have made derogatory comments about longtime Philly anchor Ukee Washington.
Through your eyes | #OurPhilly
Free fashion advice: Call your surroundings the night before to make sure your rainbow puffer matches. Thanks for sharing, @zaraneifield.
Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we’ll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout-out!
That’s interesting
👨🍳 Drench winter blues in duck fat. And enter Craig LaBan’s kitchen, where he grabs duck meats by the fistful to try his hand at notable Philly chef recipes. We see you, Craig. Scoring score: 💯.
⚾ Baseball’s finest catcher, J.T. Realmuto, is here to stay in Philly, ending a saga that took forever. Our source confirmed the contract details.
🗳️ Kids may not have intended to get political, but with less and less certainty about when regular school is happening and after the attack on the Capitol, they’re in the conversation. Now there’s a virtual road show for them to talk politics.
🧠 Immigrants are coping with more conflict and less security in the world. Three Philly groups are working with them through it all.
Opinions
“Our current system’s fragmented approach to transportation projects is inefficient and costly, and inevitably leads to disparities when it comes to priorities,” students Seunglee David Park and Emily Kennedy write that the city needs a universal transportation equity measure to identify vulnerable communities and make transportation more equitable.
It’s worth celebrating public officials who show that respect for democracy transcends individuals, writes postgraduate scholar Benjamin Pontz.
A proud conservative, former Delaware Republican Party executive director John Fluharty, writes about the relief he felt when Pesident Biden revoked the policy banning trans Americans from serving in the military.
What we’re reading
Marie Kondo follows in a long tradition of Japan’s commitment to keeping things neat. There used to be an annual cleaning event called “ohsoji.” The New Yorker organized the history for us.
And here’s the cast of The Crown taking a break from all that gloom and doom in the palace to dance to the patron saint of body acceptance Lizzo in The Independent.
Could you use some lively new quiet friends while you’re toughing it out in isolation? The L.A. Times has the hottest plant trends of 2021.
Merchants Fund has been helping the little guys of the business world since 1854. Now it’s providing grants to places like a consignment boutique and a food truck serving Laotian and Thai cuisine.