🏆 The view above the crowds | Morning Newsletter
And Cape May County’s last bridge toll taker.
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. Be careful out there: The region may see its biggest snowfall of the season this afternoon into Wednesday, with a forecast calling for 3 to 4 inches.
Didn’t make it to Broad Street to celebrate the Eagles’ Super Bowl win Sunday night — or want to spot yourself in the crowd? Enjoy this 360-degree view of the mayhem and merriment. Or if you want to relive the game itself, check out our moment-by-moment breakdown of the play that helped the Birds bring it home.
And the last bridge toll taker in Cape May County is nearing the end of an era in a tiny booth above Townsends Inlet. Here’s what to know today.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
P.S. Miss Monday’s paper? Here’s how to order back issues, high-quality reprints, and plaques of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News front pages celebrating Super Bowl 59.
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There’s nothing quite like Broad Street after a Philadelphia sports team wins a championship — the noise, the mess, the unruly joy.
🏆 In true form, Eagles fans celebrated Sunday night’s Super Bowl win by flooding the city’s major artery, partying with strangers and climbing infrastructure. Broad and Walnut went from empty (yet heavily barricaded) at 8 p.m. to human gridlock three hours later. By 2 a.m., all that was left was green confetti and empty cans.
See a 360-degree view of how Philly celebrated.
🏆 And while the entire game was a masterclass in exceptional athleticism — on the Birds’ side, at least — a certain play stood apart as the one that clinched the win: rookie Cooper DeJean’s pick-six. The Eagles cornerback put his team into a early and commanding 17-0 lead, thanks to a touchdown run on a second-quarter interception.
Take a look at how the play unfolded.
In other winning news:
The Super Bowl victory parade will be Friday, the city confirmed. Here are the details so far. And yes, Philadelphia schools will be closed.
Even before the confetti fell Sunday night, Eagles fans swooped into Philly stores for Super Bowl merch. Shops are preparing for a busy few days.
The Inquirer’s sports team rounded up some historic stats from the championship win.
The E-ZPass takeover has been looming. Now, it’s here: As of April 1, the Cape May County bridge toll systems will be entirely electronic.
That means the end of an era for Rick Shetler, the last full-time toll taker left. The 65-year-old has been collecting cash and coins from Shore drivers for 40 years.
The work has changed in other ways during his decades doing it, Shetler told The Inquirer. While recent years’ shifts have been quieter as more travelers opt to pay via E-ZPass, some people — especially locals — still want to talk. He likens the job to a bartender.
“You have to be a people person a little bit,” Shetler said. “I could have a conversation and know everything about somebody in about two minutes.”
What you should know today
Two men were killed in a torrent of gunfire early Monday morning in Crescentville in what police believe was a targeted shooting.
The celebration of the Eagles’ Super Bowl win turned violent in Prospect Park on Sunday, when a man slashed another reveler in the head, police said. Philadelphia police also reported 10 arrests, including six for assaults, during the city’s raucous celebration of the win.
Police on Monday identified the Temple University student they say stabbed a recent Temple graduate 13 times on Sunday morning and said he has been charged with attempted murder.
The University of Pennsylvania stands to lose $250 million in scientific research funds under a Trump administration directive that caps National Institutes of Health spending.
State Sen. Greg Rothman, who represents Perry County and parts of Cumberland and Dauphin Counties, won an election to become the new chair of the Pennsylvania Republican Party.
Two state legislators are asking federal authorities to suspend operations of a Sunoco pipeline that leaked jet fuel into the water wells of at least six homeowners in a Bucks County town.
Moorestown’s largest affordable apartment building opens soon. The milestone hasn’t been easy to reach.
A Bala Cynwyd family is on Tuesday’s episode of Family Feud, thanks to an elaborate 40th birthday surprise.
🧠 Trivia time
While a certain pop princess from Berks County seems swayed in her Eagles fandom, another Philly-tied celebrity hasn’t wavered from her roots. Who was the surprise supporter spotted cheering in the stands during Sunday’s big game?
A) Anne Hathaway
B) Blue Ivy Carter
C) Gigi Hadid
D) Hailee Steinfeld
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
⭐ Looking to: The Birds for inspiration because of what makes the team great — innovation, boldness, and long-term planning.
⚾ Asking: These nine questions for the Phillies as spring training opens.
🙏 Thinking of: The 10-year-old boy still recovering from plane crash injuries who celebrated the Eagles win at CHOP.
🏥 Considering: Medicaid’s role in maintaining basic care for people with disabilities.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: A simply named Manayunk thoroughfare
MINTS EATER
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Elizabeth Burdett, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Chellie Cameron. The head of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and three other Philly-area CEOs shared how they believe more women can rise into business leadership.
Photo of the day
Have a great Tuesday. I’ll see you back here tomorrow.
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