The kids we lost to gun violence | Morning Newsletter
And Philly’s top 50 films
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
It’s Wednesday and it’s sunny — but pretty cold, with a high near 24.
We’ve finally snapped our snow-less streak. Philadelphia and its neighboring counties saw 2.5 to 4 inches Monday into Tuesday, and more snow may come later this week. We’ve got you covered with important tips to brave a Philly winter at home or on the road.
Twenty-three children in Philadelphia died last year from gunfire. Today’s main story focuses on the loss of their short lives, and tells their individual stories.
— Paola Pérez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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🎤 I’m passing the mic over to criminal justice and law enforcement reporter Ellie Rushing.
Amid Philadelphia’s ongoing gun violence crisis, 23 children lost their lives last year in shootings, which are now the No. 1 cause of death for children in America.
To show the losses spanning just one year, we set out to learn about the lives of every child shot and killed in the city in 2023. In months of interviews, we worked to understand what happened to each child.
The result is Forever Young: a poignant picture of the state of Philadelphia’s shooting crisis, and how it most often impacts the city’s most vulnerable young people: all were children of color, shot in areas with higher rates of poverty.
Many had troubles that mirrored one another. But each had a unique story both in life and death — there’s the father who ran alongside the carriage carrying his son’s casket; the 2-year-old unintentionally shot by her cousin; the teen who ran away before killing his friend.
Beneath it all, these were children; children who deserved to grow old and feel safe, but whose lives were stolen by a person with a gun.
— Ellie Rushing
Read about their lives and stories in Forever Young.
What you should know today
Philadelphia schools will open on a two-hour delay Wednesday. This comes after the Philadelphia School District was generally panned for its decision to keep schools on a regular schedule Tuesday despite snowy conditions, icy streets, and widespread closures or delays in surrounding districts.
Philly police have identified the two men killed in a shooting that also wounded four other people at a suspected speakeasy in the city’s Strawberry Mansion section over the weekend.
Jerry Jordan is retiring as the president of Philly’s powerful teachers’ union, where he worked for 37 years. He’ll stay on until July.
The mother of a 16-year-old who was critically wounded in a shooting on a subway platform last week said her son will not survive his injuries. Two teens will likely be charged with murder.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker met with President Joe Biden this week and, according to Parker’s administration, they discussed how the federal government can assist the city in tackling public safety issues, affordable housing, and the opioid crisis afflicting Kensington.
A Norristown man pleaded guilty to third-degree murder on Tuesday for killing a bystander in the crossfire of a revenge shooting gone wrong.
State police captured a woman who jumped into the Delaware River late Monday while running from police who came to her home to investigate a domestic disturbance. She will face criminal charges.
The growing steakhouse chain Medium Rare will open a restaurant in Fishtown later this year.
Want to try that viral snow cream recipe or a wintry wooder ice? You may want to reconsider.
Baseball season might still be months away, but the Phillies and investment solutions company SEI are already looking for an artist to paint a 13½-foot-tall mural at Citizens Bank Park.
What makes a film a Philly film? A philm, if you will.
Besides something tangible and obvious like a movie that was filmed here, there’s also that inexplicable thing that you’d just know if you know this city: the vibe.
Inquirer staffers and film critics across the city contributed to a roundup of uniquely Philadelphian movies to know. Yes, we have “Philadelphia” and “The Sixth Sense.” And of course, there’s “Rocky.” But there is a whole lot more.
Dive into the list of our 50 favorite Philly flicks.
🧠 Trivia time
Which of the following is NOT recommended to prepare your car for winter weather?
A) Empty your windshield washer fluid reservoir
B) Add air to your tires
C) Check your battery
D) Have emergency supplies handy
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
☕ Trying: A new Dominican-owned coffee roaster in Brewerytown.
🎸 Listening to: Our pop critic Dan DeLuca’s latest playlist.
🎬 Imagining: The plot of a rom-com starring Daniel Radcliffe and Philly hometown hero Quinta Brunson.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: This Philadelphia sports legend is retiring after 13 seasons
CLEAN JOKES
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Lee Winson who correctly guessed Sunday’s answer: Pierre Robert. The hint was “Beloved Philadelphia rock jock.”
Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. Stay warm and take care.
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