The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Welcome to a mostly cloudy Saturday. Some showers are expected.
Today, I’m talking about my kayaking experience with a local outdoors club.
But first, there’s news about SEPTA ending remote work, plans to host immigration detainees at a South Jersey military base, and tuition hikes coming to Pennsylvania state universities.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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What you should know today
Authorities have identified a second suspect in a South Philadelphia shoot-out that wounded eight people outside a late-night lounge on July 5.
SEPTA will end its remote work policy and require all employees to return full-time in-person in September, as part of efforts to enhance teamwork amid a fiscal crisis.
A 29-year-old woman was shot and killed outside a church in North Philadelphia early Friday morning. Police said she may have been targeted.
The Trump administration is moving to house immigration detainees at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in South Jersey, naming it as one of two sites now certified to assist in the president’s plan for massive deportations. On Friday, immigration activists protested outside a Philadelphia courthouse following a recent ICE arrest there.
A South Jersey man was been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing a man in Gloucester Township, stealing a car, and fleeing to New York City.
Universities in Pennsylvania’s state system will raise tuition on in-state students for the first time in seven years. Penn State is also increasing tuition, and will purchase the former fraternity house where Tim Piazza was fatally injured in 2017.
Temple University is laying off 50 employees as part of a plan to reduce a projected deficit for the current fiscal year.
Lower Merion will begin installing red light enforcement cameras at designated intersections, starting with Lancaster Avenue and Remington Road.
New research from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia shows the challenges of getting families to accept a promising new drug that protects against RSV.
Do Pennsylvania drivers need front license plates? A state senator wants to make it a requirement.
When I saw the words “free boating” and “live music” paired together on an event page, I had to bite.
The Philadelphia Canoe Club was hosting its annual open house a few Sundays ago. I’d read about them in a recent article by my colleague Frank Kummer, so I knew this was the perfect opportunity to get better acquainted with their offerings, while getting to do something fun outside.
As Frank reported, the Canoe Club is just one of a network of active hiking, cycling, and paddling clubs in the Philly area. Run by volunteers, these organizations frequently host social events, lead training sessions, and take people to corners of our region that some may not know exist. Some of the groups are over a century old.
At the open house, I learned about the nonprofit’s membership programs and their trips, which are open to the public. I also got to kayak for the first time in a long time. As I lowered myself into the kayak, one of the volunteers made me smile when she told me, “You know what you’re doing.” In reality, it’d been ages since I hopped in the water like this.
I definitely need to work on my paddling skills. Fortunately, the current wasn’t too strong. There’s a spectacular view of the waterfall that spills into the Wissahickon Creek. It was a spicy summer day, but the heat wasn’t so bad in the refreshing water. I saw several birds bathing, both in the water and in the sun. I took a beat to soak up the latter, too.
On land, there was good food, lemon strawberry water ice, and music by a band that put the “live” in “lively.” But my favorite moment had to be my brief encounter with a small turtle on an exposed branch up the creek. Its presence felt affirming, as did the kindness of the people there. The perfect day we were all sharing outdoors was the spark, and the club — and our gorgeous natural surroundings — made that possible.
P.S. If you’re a fan of all things nature, I also write The Inquirer’s Outdoorsy newsletter! Get it in your inbox every Friday by signing up for free here.
In related news: For the first time since 1940, the Manayunk Canal has been reconnected to the Schuylkill.
In June, the Philadelphia School District became the first to be criminally charged with environmental violations related to asbestos management in its over 300 facilities.
Under a federal court’s watch, the district must maintain compliance with safety regulations. In a column for The Inquirer, Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. acknowledges the district’s shortcomings, and says he welcomes families, educators, and advocates to monitor its efforts.
“These issues were decades in the making, and we cannot undo the past,” Watlington writes. “But we can take full responsibility for how we move forward.”
Read on for Watlington’s examples of how the district is committed to transparency as it works to improve its asbestos program.
🧠Trivia time
Mark your calendar: Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game will be at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026.
It will be the first in Philly since what year?
A) 1986
B) 1966
C) 1996
D) 2006
Think you know? Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Philly author
AI JAZZ OP
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Pamela Reese who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: William H. Gray III. Five designs have been chosen as finalists for a memorial statue dedicated to the former congressman, to be installed at 30th Street Station.
Exclusive giveaways. Lawn games. Flyers alumni galore. The Community Caravan brings all the off-season fun to fans across the region.
For many fans, however, Gritty stole the show as the main attraction.
Read more about the caravan’s recent stop in three Jersey Shore towns with Inquirer intern Ethan Kopelman and staff photographer Elizabeth Robertson.
Somewhere on the internet in Philly
Spotted by City Hall: Bryce Harper. What was he doing there? Wrong answers only.
There’s a funny reel of a Delco musician imitating “Delco-isms” in the form of crunched up contractions.
And over on Reddit, peeps are reacting to the viral “Coldplay cheaters” moment. Ugh. “Secondhand embarrassment” is not enough to describe how that video made my skin crawl. Even the Phillies got in on the action with a “kiss cam” gone wrong.
If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to listen to “Silver Springs” in honor of a different messy situationship that just made a comeback.
👋🏽 Enjoy your day, and I’ll see you again tomorrow morning.
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