These students chose joy| Morning Newsletter
And Philly City Council is holding up a plan to buy the police headquarters building.
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.
More than 200 Blankenburg Elementary students marched in a parade to honor their school. This year, it had a special significance because it’s one of the last celebrations, as it’s among the 17 Philly schools slated to close next June.
And Philly City Council threatened to derail a plan for the city to buy the police headquarters building.
Plus, U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatick helped Democrats pass a resolution to restrict President Donald Trump’s authority to attack Iran, and more news of the day.
— Taylor Allen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Hundreds of students full of school pride marched holding puppets, trailing streamers, and waving flags through the streets surrounding Blankenburg Elementary School.
For a decade, the K-8 school has marked the end of the school year with a parade. This year has more significance because it’s one of the 17 Philadelphia schools the school board recently voted to close after next year.
The focus on Wednesday was celebration, with chants like “Blankenburg is red hot!” as well as signs that read “Up High! With Love for Everybody, 2nd Grade,” and “We Have Passion, We Make Decisions.”
The Inquirer’s Kristen A. Graham has more.
In related education news: Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s proposed $1-per-ride tax on rideshare services that she wants to use to raise $50 million for Philly schools is up in the air. Teachers and advocates rallied outside City Hall earlier this week to plead to reverse classroom budget cuts.
Parker’s administration wants to purchase the North Broad Street tower where the city’s police department is headquartered.
But City Council balked at the price: $200 million.
The city leases the building that used to house The Inquirer for $15 million per year, and it has a onetime option to issue bonds to buy the building and its remaining debt. If the city doesn’t buy it this year, the annual rent is set to almost double.
This latest development comes as Council and the Parker administration are in constant budget negotiations, right before Council is expected to take an initial vote on the mayor’s plan this week.
Reporters Anna Orso, Sean Collins Walsh, and Jake Blumgart have the details.
What you should know today
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s proposed tax hikes on hotel and short-term rentals collapse amid budget negotiations.
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick was one of the few Republicans to help Democrats pass a resolution for the first time in the House to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to attack Iran. All of the other nine Republican U.S House members from Pennsylvania voted against the resolution.
Philadelphia School District officials are conducting a formal audit of Frankford High School’s climate after staff reported serious allegations about the principal.
The New Jersey dermatologist under investigation from the state for missing payroll was Medicare’s top biller for a skin cancer treatment for three consecutive years. This treatment also saw a 40% reimbursement cut this year under the government insurance program.
Temple University’s vice president of public safety, Jennifer Griffin, will step down at the end of the month after a challenging tenure.
A new use of CAR-T technology invented at the University of Pennsylvania helped a Philadelphia man get a kidney transplant.
Le Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia returns on Aug. 20 for its 14th annual soiree.
We compiled a list of 25 farmers markets in the Philly area to explore year-round or through the fall.
Quote of the day
Philadelphia City Councilmembers Kendra Brooks, Rue Landau, and Nicolas O’Rourke called on World Cup party hosts on Wednesday to prepare for ICE activity.
🧠 Trivia time
Which celebrity was spotted visiting Luna’s Mexican Grill earlier this year?
Note: After a photo of this celebrity went viral, Luna’s has been able to make up for lost sales in the winter.
A) Ben Affleck
B) Matt Damon
C) Bradley Cooper
D) None of the above
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🌈 Sharing: Everything you need to know about Philly Pride weekend.
🍿 Watching: Love Island USA. Season 8 began this week with three Philly-area contestants.
🍽 Scheduling: Dinner reservations, now that the list of June restaurant openings is out.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: 97.5 The Fanatic
HOCKED NINJA
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Paulette Carter, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Lemon Hill. (The FIFA Fan Festival will be a 39-day event, running from June 11 to July 19 at that location.)
Photo of the day
And that should get you started for the day. Thank you for spending your morning with The Inquirer.
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