The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
It’s officially summer, Philly. Sunday will be partly cloudy with a high near 85.
As we enter the longest day of the year, resident weather expert Tony Wood shares some summer solstice expectations.
But first, what makes Philadelphia Philly? We curated a list of 76 neighborhood spots that tell the story of the city Philadelphians know and love.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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We collected 76 places around Philly that capture everything that’s great about our neighborhoods, but it’s not an exhaustive list by any means.
Some are hidden gems or may be hiding in plain sight. Together, they all stitch the fabric of the city’s weird, wonderful, and one-of-a-kind spirit, such as:
🍠 A basement yam museum
🪩 A mosaic wonderland
🥟 A neighborhood market that has served Philly for decades
From panoramic views atop a shuttered public high school to a wildlife refuge, check out our list of the 76 Philly mainstays that bring us joy, and watch our video exploring some of them.
The astronomical summer is here as of 4:24 a.m. this morning, though it definitely already felt like it around here.
As the sun beams its most direct light on the Tropic of Cancer, we have Inquirer editor and all-things-atmosphere writer Tony Wood on the line to tune us in to key solstice storylines. For instance:
🌡️ Is it going to get hot again? Some experts told Wood they expect El Niño to work against punitive hot spells in the region. Others aren’t buying that.
🌵🥵 Will the drought conditions ever end? They always have, but Philadelphia has gone 10 consecutive months of below-normal precipitation. Rain is in the forecast for Monday, which should help.
☄️ And for the celestial lovers (ahem, myself included), this could be a big year for the Perseids, and there’s a forthcoming lunar eclipse to look out for.
Read on for all of the details.
One more atmospheric thing: Centenarian Cyrus Bloom of Newark was a meteorologist during World War II. Eight decades later, he recalls it all vividly.
What you should know today
The City of Philadelphia is rolling back its geofence border around the FIFA Fan Festival to reduce the number of residential areas blocked from using rideshare.
The Justice Department is suing Philly and some top officials over an “ICE Out” law that prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from concealing their identity.
A federal appeals court says Philadelphia doesn’t get a say in the content at the President’s House, handing a win to President Donald Trump’s administration.
A former supervisor in District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office was suspended for three years in federal court for complicity in efforts to mislead a federal judge.
ICE plans to sell three warehouses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The agency bought the properties for more than $336 million to support Trump’s deportation agenda.
A planned New Jersey Turnpike expansion would put the highway closer to an Underground Railroad stop. Residents say it would imperil the site.
Turnpike officials have chosen a six-lane design to replace the 70-year-old Delaware River bridge linking Pennsylvania and New Jersey toll roads.
Current homebuilder — and former Duke basketball player — Brian Zoubek is being sued by a longtime Philly developer and his neighbors over damage to their homes.
Angelo’s Pizzeria is preparing to open in South Jersey while its Conshohocken bakery plans to sell rolls wholesale.
Bucks County Playhouse’s beloved producing director is stepping down after leading the theater through remarkable growth.
🎤 Here’s Tommy Rowan with a look back at a future L.A. Dodgers owner who planted ivy at Penn.
There are notable alums, and then there’s Walter O’Malley.
The pioneering baseball owner helped bring the sport to the West Coast, moving the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, where he built an iconic ballpark and a championship organization. And he became one of only 16 owners inducted into the Hall of Fame.
But before leading the Dodgers, O’Malley was Penn’s class president. Read on for the full story.
🧠 Trivia time
Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard has added a new limited-edition flavor to its summer menu. It’s called “mermaid” and is only available for about a month. What’s one of its primary ingredients?
A) Sea salt
B) Berry
C) Seaweed
D) Orange
Think you know? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.
What we’re ...
🌮 Savoring: Succulent tacos al pastor in Old City, among the best things we ate this week.
🎻 Searching for: Meaning through John Williams’ score to Disclosure Day.
🤔 Discussing: Should she support her husband’s new soccer obsession by spending $1,000 on World Cup tickets?
☕ Sipping on: Golden turmeric lattes with director and actor Amina Robinson.
😊 Considering: How the joy the World Cup has brought to Philadelphia feels like the escape we didn’t know we needed, as Inquirer editor Kerith Gabriel writes.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Two Delco men, Matt Freese and _ _, helped the USMNT make World Cup history
STAY TURNOUTS
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Tom Lamont, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: Cathedral Basilica. For several nights a week through mid-August, the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul will go secular and become the canvas for a new immersive, custom-designed light show called “Luminiscence.”
🎶 Today’s song goes like this: “Past mistakes are just new information / These days, I’ve got expectations.”
👋🏽 Thanks for catching up on the news with The Inquirer. I’ll be back tomorrow to help you start the week off right. Until then, take care.
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