🦠 The Philly area’s growing measles risk | Morning Newsletter
And can a candidate’s background help secure the victory?
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Good morning, Philly! Happy Thursday. Looks like we may have another rainy day on our hands.
First, we’re going to discuss measles. The MMR vaccine has declined among kindergarteners in recent years. The Inquirer has identified local pockets of low vaccine rates and spoken with families, public officials, and experts to understand the possible impact.
And a Democratic candidate in the high-stakes Lehigh Valley race is leaning heavily on his background to help secure his victory. Others are doing the same, but it may not be enough.
Plus, a GOP-led committee has accused Philly officials of shielding criminal immigrants, and more news of the day.
— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Hiding in plain sight across the Philly region are growing pockets of vulnerability — communities and schools where so few children are protected against the measles that a single case could cause widespread illness.
Skyrocketing numbers of exemptions permitted under decades-old laws make Pennsylvania one of the easiest states in the country to opt out of school immunization requirements. Parents here can keep their kids unvaccinated by claiming medical, religious, even so-called philosophical reasons.
Vaccine rates slipped during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been slow to recover at a time of declining trust in public health. Misinformation about vaccine safety now dominates federal policy discussions under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist.
Health officials face a difficult problem: Many parents with access to vaccines do not want them. And there are a number of reasons why.
What does that mean for your community? Inquirer reporters Sarah Gantz, Lizzie Mulvey, and Aubrey Whelan have the details.
Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District is one of the few true swing seats in the country. Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie is considered one of the most vulnerable lawmakers as Democrats are widely expected to win back control of the U.S. House.
Of the four “tossup” districts in Pennsylvania this year, it’s also the only one with a robust and competitive primary on May 19 — making the contest among Democratic front-runner Bob Brooks and three other candidates a referendum on how voters think the party should rebound.
Brooks and those supporting him — like Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders — aren’t shying away from highlighting the background of the candidate himself: a 53-year-old union leader and retired firefighter who coaches baseball and drives a snowplow on the side.
But the three other candidates are also leaning into their distinct personalities and backgrounds that represent different elements of the Democratic coalition, giving them each a path to win in November, observers say.
What you should know today
The House Judiciary Committee has accused Philadelphia’s top law enforcement officials of shielding criminal immigrants through sanctuary policies and demanded that they turn over related records and correspondence.
A nuclear power company founded by Bill Gates is starting construction on a $450 million factory in South Philadelphia’s Bellwether District, where it plans to make radioactive molecules for the treatment of advanced prostate and other cancers.
Ted Turner, the brash and outspoken television pioneer who created a media empire and transformed the news business by creating CNN and introducing the 24-hour cable news cycle, died Wednesday. He was 87.
Tens of millions of taxpayers who were penalized by the IRS during the pandemic for failing to pay their taxes or filing late may qualify for a refund or termination of the penalties.
Rutgers University canceled a planned graduation speech by business leader Rami Elghandour after some students raised concerns about his criticism of Israel on social media.
Atlantic City International Airport will have every route that the now-defunct Spirit Airlines covered, thanks to a new partnership with Breeze Airways by the end of the year.
Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill is making sure South Jersey is included in World Cup celebrations as she announced plans for World Cup fan fests across the state.
Quote of the day
Peggy E. Moore is 75 years old and has worked at Temple University for 44 years. She’s the “go-to” problem solver in the provost’s office. This week, she graduated after years of methodically chipping away at her degree while raising a family as a single parent.
🧠 Trivia time
Who did the Eagles just promote to the assistant general manager role?
A) Andrew Berry
B) Alec Halaby
C) Adam Berry
D) Bryce Johnston
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🍦 Dying to try: Boozy ice cream from the NYC-based Tipsy Scoop, which is opening its first Philly location near Rittenhouse Square this weekend.
🎶 Excited to hear: The Dell Music Center’s concert lineup for this summer. Some featured artists include Patti LaBelle and West Philly-raised rapper Eve.
🐸 Admiring: A colorful, whimsical home in Merion Station that houses many sculpted frogs and looks like something out of a children’s storybook.
🤩 Kinda obsessed with: The internet’s new favorite Philly character. In between licks of a soft-serve ice cream cone, Jamele Ransom gave a now-viral interview about a car crash.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Famous poet and essayist behind O Captain! My Captain!
LAWN MIT WHAT
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Erica Griste, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Proximity Wine Bar. This new wine bar coming to Chester County is putting the spotlight on Pennsylvania by serving only “the best of what the region has to show.”
Photo of the day
🦉 As a fellow Temple alum, I couldn’t help but feature the new generation of Owls. Good luck to anyone graduating this year!
🎓 One last cool thing: Emmy-winning actor Colman Domingo delivered Temple’s commencement speech at the Liacouras Center. And while I’m a little jealous we didn’t have him at my ceremony, I’m excited his honorary doctorate makes us both Owls.
And that’s all from me! 👋 Have a good day, everyone.
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