‘There’s no business’ after I-95 collapse | Morning Newsletter

Happy Friday. There’s a chance of more showers coming our way. It’s welcome considering Pennsylvania declared a statewide drought watch.

Consider this your reminder that Sunday is Father’s Day. If you haven’t made plans to treat your dad yet this Sunday, you still have a little bit of time. There are specials throughout the city, from distillery tours to brunches.

The collapse of the I-95 bridge in Northeast Philadelphia and the subsequent fallout dominated the week. For one family, there’s the immense grief over the the death of Nathan Moody, the trucker who died in the crash.

Commuters had to learn longer routes and federal officials warned of supply chain issues along the East Coast.

Today’s lead story puts a spotlight on the area businesses near the site of the accident and how they’re dealing with the aftermath.

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)

The I-95 collapse is the latest obstacle for local businesses in the area who are still recovering from the pandemic. They had to deal with rising costs, hiring struggles, and now this.

State Road is the local detour route for drivers traveling southbound on I-95. Business owners told The Inquirer they already are feeling the impact from the new traffic patterns and road closures. Several restaurant and bar owners said that large parties canceled, not wanting to deal with congestion. Fewer people seem inclined to stop in for a bite or a beer.

Notable quote: “Everyone is just tired of sitting on 95 and wants to go home,” said Chris Wilson, a founding partner of Sharkey’s Grill and Ale House.

The farther away from I-95, the impacts are less pronounced. Some have gotten inspiration and made collapse-related merch like T-shirts.

Continue reading to learn the road ahead for business owners in the region.

It turns out that Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano had some reservations about a plan to select fake Electoral College electors to try to reverse the results of the 2020 presidential election.

He heard from other Republicans that the scheme might be “illegal” in the words of Christina Bobb, who was then a One America News reporter who later joined Trump’s legal team, according to an email among others from Trump’s team that the New York Times reported about last summer.

But previously unreported emails obtained by The Inquirer show that Trump called Mastriano himself to peddle lies about Dominion voting machines.

Reminder: Claims of Dominion voting machines influencing election results are not true. In April, Fox News agreed to pay Dominion $787.5 million to settle a defamation case stemming from false claims it had aired about the company’s voting machines.

The new emails reveal additional details about Trump’s pressure campaign in Pennsylvania and give a look into how it was received in Harrisburg. Election-related conspiracy theories and bad legal advice spread quickly.

Keep reading for more excerpts of the emails.

June 21 is the summer solstice. But what other holiday is that day?

Hint: It’s an unofficial holiday

A) National Water Ice Day

B) Naked Hiking Day

C) Poolside Day

D) None of the above

Think you know? Check your answer.

♻️ Explaining: How recycled glass bottles will be used to rebuild I-95.

❗Demanding: At least one of Rhode Island’s 21 lighthouses after two state officials were acting so rude and bizarre that their state launched two separate investigations.

Hint: Swann Memorial Fountain

ARGON EQUALS

We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Send us your own original anagram to unscramble if you’d like. Email us if you know the answer. Cheers to Bill Ross, who correctly guessed Thursday’s answer: Atlantic City.

I hope your work day goes smoothly and you’re jumping into the weekend like the picture above. Paola will pop in Sunday and I’ll see you next week.