The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
This is Thursday. Record high temps are likely once more.
A growing number of parents are determined to prevent their children from using school-issued Chromebooks.
We also have new details on the Sixers’ and Flyers’ new arena location.
Plus, why Philadelphia School District officials support a rideshare tax plan, and more news of the day.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Are Chromebooks hurting education? Some parents in Lower Merion think so. They say kids are struggling to focus and that excessive screen time may hurt cognitive development.
💻 A new petition signed by more than 200 parents asks Lower Merion to let families opt out of the district’s electronic device program, citing rules that say principals must accommodate students.
💻 From all age levels, those who signed reportedly come from every school in the district. One parent said they won’t take no for an answer.
💻 However, administrators say there is no way to opt out of the program. New policy changes could provide families with that option.
Comcast Spectacor and the Sixers have their eyes set on the southeast corner of the intersection of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue for their new arena.
Located in the South Philadelphia sports complex, the arena will also host the Flyers and an WNBA team yet to be named.
Regulatory and legislative approvals are still needed before they can officially break ground on the site. Construction is expected to take three years.
Get more from commercial real estate reporter Jake Blumgart.
In related news: Stateside Live! announced a $20 million outdoor expansion, set to open on Memorial Day weekend.
What you should know today
The Philadelphia School District will reverse its plan to eliminate 340 classroom-based jobs if Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s $1-per-trip rideshare tax passes, officials said Wednesday.
Mayor Parker endorsed State Sen. Sharif Street for Congress, as he seeks to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans and represent one of the bluest districts in the nation.
For the fourth time since the war in Iran began, Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman joined nearly every Republican on Wednesday to help kill an effort to restrict the president’s attacks in the Middle East.
Philadelphia police have identified a person they believe was involved with the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old man affiliated with the Young Bag Chasers last month, law enforcement sources said Wednesday.
Two men and a woman were arrested in connection with the assault and stabbing that occurred earlier this month at Atlantic City’s Showboat Resort.
The planned transfer of several teachers out of Frankford amid budget cuts is on hold after the teachers union complained that it violated their due process rights.
Philadelphia City Council members advanced legislation authorizing the city to back a $35 million line of credit that guarantees the Democratic National Committee would not be on the hook for excess costs if it brings its convention to the city in 2028.
Felony charges have been withdrawn against two teenagers accused of assaulting the Quakertown police chief during an anti-ICE protest by high school students in February, their attorneys said.
A 120-unit apartment building is planned next to Fishtown’s Girard SEPTA station. The property would take the place of a closed dollar store.
A controversial 1.6 million-square-foot data center in Chester County could shrink its footprint significantly after fierce pushback from residents.
Quote of the day
After 42 years of turning heads on White Horse Pike, AAA Hobbies and Crafts is shutting its doors. An exact date has not been set, but owner Alan Bass been steadily increasing discounts to move merchandise since March.
🧠 Trivia time
SEPTA will keep the same $2.90 base fare for a Broad Street subway ride to the Linc for World Cup matches.
In contrast, NJ Transit is rumored to charge this much for a train trip between games in the New Jersey Meadowlands from New York’s Penn Station.
A) $15
B) $25
C) more than $100
D) $0 — it’s free
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🗳️ Tracking: New Jersey special election results to fill Mikie Sherrill’s seat.
🩻 Touched by: How a routine test during pregnancy saved a pediatrician’s life.
⚽ Debunking: No, FIFA isn’t actually banning tailgating at the Linc during the World Cup.
🙀 Getting the lore on: A very Philly story of two neighbors airing their cat drama on TV.
🎸 Excited for: Philly shows this week including Waxahatchee & MJ Lenderman, Bleachers, Tiger’s Jaw, and more.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: This Quaker farmer created America’s first botanical garden
BJORN MARTHA
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Daniel Deck, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Iron Hill. The shuttered brewery is to reopen in Center City this weekend.
Photo of the day
🎤 One more musical thing: During the finale of Hayley Williams’ second and final sold-out show at Franklin Music Hall last week, she pulled Philly-raised music producer Steph Marziano on stage to sing “Parachute.” The song as we know it might not exist without Marziano.
Have a great day. Let’s do this again tomorrow to wrap up the week.
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