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Shootings climb at gas stations | Morning Newsletter

And the fight for the state House

Corliss Jackson, mother of Rasheen Naseeb Robinson, 22, who was fatally shot March 22, at the Liberty gas station at Front Street and Lehigh Avenue. Photograph taken at her home on Friday morning holding a portrait of Rasheen.
Corliss Jackson, mother of Rasheen Naseeb Robinson, 22, who was fatally shot March 22, at the Liberty gas station at Front Street and Lehigh Avenue. Photograph taken at her home on Friday morning holding a portrait of Rasheen.Read moreAlejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

    The Morning Newsletter

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Today is a good day for layers. We’ll only hit the high 40s.

Violent crime at gas stations is on the rise compared to previous years. Shootings, carjackings, and gunpoint robberies have all increased. It’s no secret Philadelphia continues to grapple with record gun violence. But what is the responsibility of the owners to keep customers safe?

Our main story focuses on the victims and their families as they decide to file lawsuits.

If you see this 🔑 in today’s newsletter, that means we’re highlighting our exclusive journalism. You need to be a subscriber to read these stories.

— Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

There have been nine murders committed at Philadelphia gas stations in 2021 and so far this year. According to police, that’s up from zero in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Necessary context: These murders are a tiny fraction of the total number of murders citywide — a record 562 homicides in 2021, and just off that pace so far in 2022.

  1. Still, the new data from the Philadelphia Police Department shows a chilling trend.

Violent crime figures at gas stations:

  1. Carjackings have more than quadrupled with 30 so far this year, up from seven last year and none between 2018 and 2020.

  2. There have been 69 gunpoint robberies so far this year compared to 65 for all of last year.

  3. 17 victims of nonfatal shootings compared to the average of one per year from 2018 to 2020.

While gas station owners say that the increase is simply a manifestation of Philadelphia’s broader gun violence problem, several people who have been injured or lost loved ones filed negligence lawsuits arguing that gas stations should have done more to protect patrons.

Important note: Under Pennsylvania law, businesses that fail to provide reasonable care to prevent harm that directly causes an injury can be liable for any damages suffered.

Continue reading to learn about decisions by one victim and several survivors of those who were killed to sue gas station owners.

What you should know today

  1. Doug Mastriano conceded to Josh Shapiro five days after Election Day.

  2. The owners and developers of the proposed Sixers arena are trying to sway Philly’s Chinatown leaders to accept it.

  3. Contacting an abortion clinic can put your personal information at risk.

  4. Lia Thomas speaks out about equal opportunity for trans athletes as Penn’s swimming coach wants to keep sights on this season. 🔑

  5. Hundreds of Penn State faculty are publicly and privately questioning university leadership over how best to address racism.

  6. Gen Z turnout may have stopped a ‘red wave.’

  7. Local coronavirus numbers: Here’s your daily look at the latest COVID-19 data.

Even if Pennsylvania Democrats fall short of taking the state House, strategists and officials said the party defied political gravity.

Reminder: Inflation at generational highs and the unpopularity of Democrat President Joe Biden suggested Republicans could have strengthened their almost three-decade grip on the state legislature. That didn’t happen.

  1. The Democrats netted at least 11 seats in the Pennsylvania House.

This outcome is part of a national surge of Democratic wins in state legislative races.

The race for control is down to just two districts in the Philadelphia suburbs where the candidates are separated by just a handful of votes.

What could happen: Republicans would need to win both districts to maintain control of the House and their 23-seat majority will have dwindled to one seat.

  1. If Democrats win one of the two remaining seats, the party will hold a narrow majority.

Keep reading to understand how the impact of redistricting and abortion made a difference.

🧠 Philly Trivia Time 🧠

What is the name of Philadelphia’s Contemporary newest show?

A) Supine Horizons

B) Take A Nap

C) Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto

D) Pause, Rest, Be

Find out if you know the answer.

What we’re...

🍗 Considering: What Inquirer writers and editors have to say about the Chicken Man.

🐓 Following: A celebrity rooster who thinks he’s a kitten went missing from the Funny Farm rescue.

🧊 Preparing: For a cold week ahead. I’m telling myself the freeze will make me feel more festive.

🧩 Unscramble the Anagram 🧩

Hint: Museum

ACLU HEPTOSE

Think you know? Send your guess our way at morningnewsletter@inquirer.com. We’ll give a shout-out to a reader at random who answers correctly. Today’s shout-out goes to Deborah Harris, who correctly guessed Saami Somi as Sunday’s answer.

Photo of the Day

And that’s your start to the week. Thanks for waking up with The Inquirer.