Pa. addiction treatment providers face little state scrutiny | Morning Newsletter
And, the NFL Draft starts today. Here’s your guide.
The Morning Newsletter
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First: Addiction treatment providers in Pa. face little state scrutiny, according to an investigation by KHN, a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues, and Spotlight PA, an independent, collaborative newsroom dedicated to producing investigative journalism for all of Pennsylvania.
Then: The NFL Draft begins today, and we’re bringing you great reads on what to watch for.
And: Here’s when you need to wear a mask and when you can ditch it, according to the CDC.
— Ashley Hoffman (@_ashleyhoffman, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
A Spotlight PA and KHN investigation found that the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has allowed providers to continue operating despite repeated violations of state regulations and harm to clients.
We conducted more than 80 interviews and reviewed thousands of pages of state government and court records that disclosed the department lacks resources and regulatory power, and rarely takes strict disciplinary action against facilities when so many Pennsylvanians require services. The state does not make easily available some of the most troubling records about facilities, leaving Pennsylvanians — who suffer one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the nation — in the dark about providers’ track records.
Here’s more of what we found.
Your NFL Draft starter kit
No one may collapse an awning today. (Talk about a throwback Thursday.) But the start of the NFL Draft is still widely considered the most hype-worthy (and chaotic) day in sports that isn’t a game. Most important of all, columnist EJ Smith says, the Eagles have a shot to make meaningful progress with these picks. So we have some great reads to get you ready.
🦅 Could the Eagles still trade back up after trading down? Trade down again? Yes. So many possibilities. Here’s how it could all play out.
🏟️ It’s time for the Eagles, and everyone else, to get everything wrong, columnist Mike Sielski writes with a blend of a humor and heartbreak.
📺 And, here’s everything you need to know to watch and stream it all.
💡 Want more on the draft? EJ Smith has you covered in our Early Birds newsletter. Sign up for it here.
🆕 Here’s when you need to wear a mask, according to new CDC guidance. We’ve broken it down with our expert-informed guide, whether you’re vaccinated or not.
🆕 Afraid of needles? Here are some strategies to help make you feel more comfortable getting vaccinated.
Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Philly area? Use our lookup tool.
Seven experts ranked the risk of everyday activities once you’re fully vaccinated.
Whether you booked an appointment on your own or you’ve already received the vaccine, you can take yourself off COVID-19 vaccine wait lists in Philly and the suburbs.
What you need to know today
3,000 coronavirus vaccine does are set to expire in Philadelphia if they go unused, officials told us.
The PES refinery in South Philadelphia kept emitting benzene into the air at more than three times the EPA’s action level even after it was long closed from a 2019 explosion, says a watchdog group.
Thomas Jefferson University is a national leader in medical marijuana research. A former worker says she was fired for using it for her chronic back pain.
The director of the Penn Museum said yesterday that he will help facilitate the return of a MOVE member’s remains to the Africa family.
People with intellectual disabilities are helping providers improve the accessibility of the vaccination experience.
The case of a Pa. cheerleader venting on Snapchat has landed before the Supreme Court. The issue at hand: the extent to which schools should have discretion to discipline students for things they say off campus.
Through your eyes | #OurPhilly
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That’s interesting
🍴 We’re bringing you a guide to Dine Latino Restaurant Week. It’s back May 5, and there’s a free appetizer or dessert in it for diners who purchase two entrees.
🥕 Here’s a guide to 14 Philadelphia-area CSA farm subscriptions for all of your fresh food.
🌊 Water heals our souls. These are the best, most regal waterfalls in Pennsylvania within a two-hour drive from Philly.
🚪 Porch steps are sacred. Step this way to get unwanted circulars off your steps in Philadelphia.
🌳 This is how to get the most out of your outdoor workout.
Opinions
“The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms was never about giving people the right to shoot those who sparked their irrational fears. It was meant to protect Americans from tyranny,” — writes columnist Solomon Jones on how a Supreme Court ruling on the Second Amendment could lead to more deaths of Black people.
If the political maps drawn this year don’t prioritize BIPOC interest, it will be impossible to judge them as fair, and it will only perpetuate racial inequity, writes Salewa Ogunmefun, the executive director of PA Voice.
Philadelphia worked through the crisis of 2020 and 2021 to keep the court system running with hard work and common goals, write trial lawyers Denise M. Mandi and Jordan L. Strokovsky.
What we’re reading
When is the last time you comped yourself onto a pretzel? Billy Penn has an ode to the middle of a Philadelphia soft pretzel.
A new dinosaur species has been discovered on one of Japan’s southern islands, the Hill reports.
Salon takes a look at how Sesame Street influenced culture.
Slate has some advice on how to persuade those who are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Think you know sandwiches? Food & Wine has a quiz.
Once regarded by many residents as culturally and physically isolated from the city itself, Rutgers-Camden has endeavored to open its doors, expand its presence, and create new partnerships with the community. Nyeema Watson, Rutgers University Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Inclusion, and Civic Engagement, has been a leading force and face of that evolution, speaking at conferences, attending community meetings all over town and beyond, and serving on boards of major Camden organizations. She says the work is ongoing and far from finished.