Johnny Doc, Councilman Bobby Henon indicted; frigid weather moves in | Morning Newsletter
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Brrr. If you think it’s cold this morning, just wait until tomorrow when temperatures tumble into the single digits. We do have a chance of seeing snow today, though, so bundle up. One thing that’s heating up today: the FBI probe with Johnny Doc, the all-powerful labor leader, at its center. Officials are expected to announce today that he has been indicted by a federal grand jury. We’ve got the details on the investigation so far and where it’s headed next.
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— Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)
Federal authorities will announce criminal charges today against powerful labor leader John J. Dougherty, Philadelphia City Councilman Bobby Henon, and at least three other officers of their union, Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, according to two sources familiar with the investigation.
The specific charges and the total number of people facing prosecution, the results of a years-long FBI probe, are unclear. Both Dougherty (known as “Johnny Doc”) and Henon have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
Who is Johnny Doc?
Johnny Doc is the most powerful man in Philadelphia politics who has never won an election. He’s led the Local 98 for a quarter-century and in that time has amassed influence across the city.
He’s behind those inflatable rats you see around town, Pennsylvania’s new congressional districts, the victories of two mayors, the new construction tax abatement, and even the soda tax.
What’s happened so far?
The FBI probe began in 2016 with a raid on more than a dozen union sites as well as homes and offices of key Local 98 officials and allies. It focuses on how the union has exerted its considerable clout with Dougherty at its center.
On Monday, a New Jersey electrical contractor and a childhood friend of Dougherty’s became the first person to plead guilty in the probe.
On Tuesday, Dougherty’s chiropractor, a South Philadelphia neighborhood activist, was charged with stealing from a nonprofit he founded as well as from Local 98’s charitable arm.
Your toilet overflows, it floods your master bedroom. To fix it, you’ll have to tear up multiple rooms in your home to access the drain line. Ugh.
That’s what happened to a Morrisville couple in 2016. Their State Farm policy had said it would cover tearing out and replacing “any part of the building” necessary for the repair. But a confusing change in the plan meant their work wasn’t covered. The couple sued and won $46,000 and it may have national implications.
What you need to know today
Federal immigration authorities have been pushing into local courthouses and it’s keeping witnesses and victims away, disrupting the fair administration of justice in Pennsylvania, according to a new study.
While federal workers recover from the shutdown, an emergency food market for those in need will continue in a new venue today.
Jussie Smollet, a black, gay actor known for his role on Empire, was assaulted in Chicago in a potential hate crime Tuesday. Two people carrying a noose shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him before attacking him.
If the globe is warming why is it so frigid this week? The record-breaking cold and climate change are very much related. (Hint: It’s the polar vortex.)
It was a good night for Philly sports fans: the Sixers beat the Lakers 121-105 on the West Coast and the Flyers extended their winning streak with a 1-0 victory over the Rangers.
The Phillies may not have revealed any free agent signings Tuesday, but they did snag a fan favorite: Jimmy Rollins is signing on as a special advisor.
Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly
And awn and awn and awn. Gotta love an account dedicated to Philadelphia’s architectural marvels like @philly_jawnings.
Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we’ll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out!
That’s Interesting
Wing Bowl may be extinct, but there are plenty of events popping up to fill its chicken-shaped void, whether you like it or not.
The art world has its sights set on Kambel Smith, a 32-year-old self-taught artist known for amazing, intricate cardboard sculptures of Philadelphia buildings. You have to see them for yourself.
Great news for Black Panther fans: it’s coming back to theaters in honor of Black History Month.
The Bourse food hall houses a wide variety of eateries, but it’s also arguably the city’s largest, most ambitious bar — that is, if it can find an audience.
The Eagles' schedule won’t be out until mid-April, but that hasn’t stopped reporter Ed Barkowitz from analyzing the questions facing their opponents this offseason.
Sylvester Stallone wants to make a movie about another Philly-related icon: Edgar Allan Poe. Don’t worry, he doesn’t want to star in it ... anymore.
Opinions
“It would make you wonder, wouldn’t it? Am I about to start a treatment that my doctor thinks is best for me? Or is this the product of someone’s free lunch?” — Patrick J. Brennan, MD, chief medical officer for the University of Pennsylvania Health System, on why gifts from pharma to doctors should be banned.
The robots are coming for your job and they’re going to make you forget all about President Trump, writes columnist Will Bunch.
It’s been five years since 26-year-old architect Amber Long was gunned down during an attempted purse snatching in Northern Liberties. And yet there have been no arrests in the case, writes columnist Jenice Armstrong.
What we’re reading
You’ll want to turn the sound on for this one. The Washington Post has taken a multimedia dive into how climate change is impacting real Americans right now and it is frankly very scary. Don’t look away.
A UPS tricycle isn’t such a silly thing to imagine. The company is trading trucks for trikes in some cities and PlanPhilly says we could be next. They’re pretty cute, actually.
Not so cute? Smelly landfills like the one in Monmouth County that has nearby residents complaining, reports NJ.com. What a stinky situation.
There are always new restaurants to try in the Philly region. Foodies who want to dabble in social media restaurant reviews would best heed Eater’s rules for writing ones that are actually useful.
Dairy milk is out and milk made from almonds and oats is in. What happened, people? The Guardian knows how alternative milks came to rule the grocery store.
A Daily Dose of | Super Foods
The Super Bowl is this Sunday, so you better get your menu together. Need guacamole? You can pick it up at plenty of local restaurants. As for wings, our staff has some recommendations.
