🔔 Revisiting Philly’s 1976 party | Morning Newsletter
🎆 And late-hour fireworks.
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 and happy Friday, Philly.
Today’s high temps could break records, and nightfall may not bring much relief. Experts tell us why warmer nights can be more dangerous than daytime heat.
On the eve of America’s 250th, we’re flashing back five decades for a look at how Philadelphia celebrated the Bicentennial.
And to the surprise of some Fairmount residents, this year’s fireworks display will start around midnight. They aren’t happy about it.
Plus, a federal judge ruled that Philly can’t force ICE agents to unmask, and more news to know to kick off your holiday weekend.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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The hype was real for the Bicentennial in Philly.
With 20 million visitors projected to travel to the city, there were big dreams for projects to mark the major occasion, like a massive suspended platform at 30th Street Station and a flower-focused theme park in Fairmount Park.
Instead, the birthplace of American democracy hosted an under-attended party, and was then caught in the grips of a disease outbreak.
It’s an understatement to say reality did not live up expectations of a Bicentennial boom, but it wasn’t a complete bust. In some ways, the nation’s 200th birthday gave us some of the Philadelphia we know today.
For more on the lasting legacy, dive into the Inquirer archives with Nick Vadala.
Those who live near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway are used to the sparks and blasts for July Fourth, but some aren’t particularly thrilled about their late start this year.
🎆 Fireworks will begin closer to midnight. The star-studded lineup for the One City: Unity Concert for America is bigger this year, so the show will also start earlier and end later.
🎆 The noise is not the problem. Some residents told The Inquirer the nuisance is the events’ timing competing with youngsters’ bedtimes, referring to the move as “not a family-friendly decision.”
🎆 Traffic will be a headache, too. With an expected 300,000 people expected, there are concerns about how the city is handling traffic leaving the Parkway.
Henry Savage has the full story.
Plus: Brush up on road closures and transportation info before heading to the Parkway.
What you should know today
The President’s House is fair game for the Trump administration following an appeals court ruling that cleared the way for the National Park Service to install a new exhibit.
A teenager who police say killed a Penn State student from South Philly was captured in Colorado Thursday and will be charged with murder. A second teen suspect also surrendered to authorities.
Philadelphia can’t prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other federal officers from concealing their identities, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
Police identified a man who they say shot and killed two men and injured a third near the Hunting Park Recreation Center. Investigators believe the crimes are linked.
Delaware County is investigating a hack of its network systems. The scale of the breach remains unclear.
Thirty-one people were arrested for trafficking fentanyl and other illegal drugs inside the Camden County Jail.
Philly-based restaurateur Stephen Starr settled with the National Labor Relations Board over union-busting allegations at his D.C. steakhouse.
Several new stores are coming to the King of Prussia Mall in the coming months.
The University of Valley Forge has been given a serious warning that it is in danger of losing its accreditation.
Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.
This week, we have an explainer from Michelle Myers on the logic behind SEPTA’s bus route numbers.
The transit system operates more than 120 routes, but its numbers don’t necessarily indicate where they go or what streets they operate on. It turns out the digits are a relic from the streetcar era. Here’s the full story.
Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.
🧠Trivia time
A local ceramicist, whose dishware can be seen at restaurants ranging from Provenance to Zahav, is rebuilding following bankruptcy and a kiln disaster. What are they called?
A) Le Creuset
B) Fiesta
C) Felt and Fat
D) East Fork
Think you know? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.
What we’re …
🥵 Avoiding: Exhaustion and dehydration in the heat, and at Philly’s last World Cup game.
🚂 Excited to see: Big Boy, the world’s largest steam locomotive, as it passes through Philly.
🏛️ Shocked by: Lawmakers almost demolished Independence Hall in the 1800s.
đź“ş Looking out for: Task will start filming its second season next week in Manayunk.
🌱 Learning: Soil from Revolutionary battlefields was mixed at Independence Hall on this week in Philly history.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: A destination for Main Line musicians
ANY DASHING SPROUT
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Tanya O’Neill, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Christina Aguilera. This singer has been recruiting Philly-area “soldiers” for her concert on the Fourth of July.
Photo of the day
đź”” One more Semiquincentennial thing: Members of Congress gathered in Philadelphia Thursday to commemorate the vote for independence 250 years ago. Their speeches reflected on historical struggles and present-day tensions.
👋🏽 This newsletter is taking a break in observance of the Fourth of July. We’ll be back on Monday. Until then, you can find all the latest news and our holiday weekend coverage at Inquirer.com. Take care!
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