ICE arrests rattle South Philly block | Morning Newsletter
👹 And Labubus’ takeover.
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. Another summer day, another rainy forecast for the region.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sought to arrest an undocumented man with criminal charges in Point Breeze earlier this month. The raid led to four other arrests and a rattled block.
And the viral Labubu monster toys are a hit in Philadelphia, with local creators making custom outfits and hosting themed events for them. Below, we explain the craze.
Plus, it’s peak firefly season. Read on to find out where to see them around Philly, and more news of the day.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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On July 6, federal immigration agents arrested five Guatemalan men at a brick rowhouse near 20th and Morris Streets.
Only one faced criminal charges. The rest appear to have been “collateral arrests,” taken because they happened to be present and undocumented — a change in policy under President Donald Trump’s administration. All five have since been placed in deportation proceedings.
The arrests rattled neighbors, some of whom can be heard cursing at the ICE officers in a video of the incident. They also underscore the complications that can emerge in a city that has long welcomed newcomers, but now has been freshly targeted by Trump for its refusal to help enforce federal immigration laws.
What you should know today
Philadelphia police have identified the officers who fatally shot a 25-year-old man in May.
While visiting Pittsburgh on Tuesday with Trump, Sen. Dave McCormick will announce $70 billion in artificial intelligence and energy investments in Pennsylvania.
Gov. Josh Shapiro has joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration over $230 million that schools expected on July 1.
Shapiro and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin want State Sen. Sharif Street to consider stepping down as Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party chair as he runs for U.S. Congress.
The Pennsylvania Republican Party plans to endorse a candidate for governor in September, much sooner than usual.
The Stormwater Authority of Chester acted “outside the law” in paying the so-called rain tax board hundreds of thousands of dollars, a state court judge found.
Thousands of provisional ballots were rejected in Pennsylvania last year for errors. A new design aims to fix that.
The researchers behind Duffy’s Cut in Downingtown believe they found a second mass grave of Irish railroad workers 11 miles away.
With the closure of Beaty American at the end of July, Philly’s architectural salvage king is ending his reign after 50 years of work.
There’s the Kensington tattoo shop customizing the scary-cute keychain plushies with ink, and the South Philly accessory studio making them custom outfits. The Chinatown shops that sell them often charge a premium because of how difficult they are to source.
👹 Welcome to Labubudelphia.
👹 Labubus — that’s “Luh-BOO-boo” — have exploded in popularity over the past year, thanks to celebrity attention, a social media frenzy, and scarcity. Even knockoff Labubus, a.k.a. Lafufus, have become collectibles. (Mine has fraying seams and crooked feet. She’s perfect.)
👹 Why are they so coveted? It’s pretty simple, according to one Gloucester County devotee: “They’re cute yet weird, and people find them amusing.”
Reporter Emily Bloch explains the trend.
The Pennsylvania firefly is having an active summer, thanks to the region’s hot and humid weather.
Lightning bugs, as many Philly-area folks call them, are easy to find (then catch): Look for them in open meadows near woods or water. You can also attract them to your garden with diverse, native vegetation.
The city, too, offers plenty of spots to see these glowing beetles, including Belmont Plateau and Wissahickon Valley Park.
Reporter Henry Savage has more on the bugs’ July activity.
🧠 Trivia time
Tiny Shore community South Seaside Park just got the OK to do what, per a New Jersey Supreme Court ruling?
A) Deannex from Berkeley Township
B) Dredge its beach
C) Secede from New Jersey
D) Cease to exist
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
✈️ Arguing: Philly’s airport is great, actually.
🎪 Ready for: A “riskier” Fringe Festival this September.
💗 Comparing: Love Island watchers to Birds fans.
📱 Reporting: Parking violations to the PPA in 30 seconds with this new tool.
🚓 Considering: The persistent failings of police rape investigations.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: West Philly-founded brewery-winery
CORNCOB YAP
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Demetrios Staurinos, who solved Monday’s anagram: Asbury Park. We spoke to actor Danny DeVito, a native of the seaside city, about his Abbott Elementary crossover role.
Photo of the day
There’s probably a metaphor in the above, but I’ll leave it to you to find. In the meantime, be well.
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