Trump’s effect on Pa. governor’s race | Morning Newsletter
🎷 And it’s Philly Jazz Month.
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. There’s a chance of showers throughout the day and a high near 53.
In 2024, support for President Donald Trump ushered in a red wave in Pennsylvania and beyond, but the political landscape looks different now. For Stacy Garrity, her ties to Trump could make or break her chances for governor.
Further on, we’re celebrating Philadelphia’s rich jazz history.
Plus, a warning from police about ATM scams, and more news of the day.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity is proud to be among 10 gubernatorial candidates to get Donald Trump’s backing so far this year. She is running unopposed in the May 19 Republican primary to challenge Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Garrity’s support for Trump has only grown since the launch of her campaign eight months ago. Oftentimes, she has gone out of her way to voice her endorsement of his political decisions, unrelated to her job as the state’s top fiscal watchdog.
What she has to gain — or lose — from her close alliance to Trump remains to be seen. Some voters say they still have yet to learn her name.
Notable quote: “People want to elect somebody who represents them in Pennsylvania, not somebody who is just going to pledge loyalty to the president,” one GOP strategist said.
State politics reporter Gillian McGoldrick has the story.
Jazz Appreciation Month (referred to as Philly Jazz Month around here) will see a handful of programs, educational activities, and concerts showcasing the American-born art form across the city. Some calendar highlights include:
🎷 The East Passyunk Jazz Crawl on April 4, featuring a musical buffet along the promenade.
🎷 Philadelphia Jazz Kissa on April 10, 17, and 24, a series of vinyl listening parties at a Mount Airy record shop.
🎷 Sunday Jazz Over the City on April 19, a sunset concert at the Rail Park performed by saxophonist Mervin Toussaint.
See the full lineup of events.
What you should know today
FBI Director Kash Patel was among the attendees at a roundtable discussion on fentanyl in Allentown. And a North Philadelphia drug-trafficking group involving 17 people that sold crack and cocaine out of a coffee shop has been shut down, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said.
Scammers in Philadelphia are using trap-door tools to catch cash from other people’s ATM transactions, a problem that police say has been ongoing since March 15.
Two people were injured after a small plane crashed Wednesday afternoon in a Northeast Philadelphia park. According to initial police information, the plane lost power midflight.
SEPTA is buying 24 surplus passenger rail cars from the Montreal public transportation system, Exo, to reinforce Philadelphia’s Regional Rail fleet.
A Philadelphia man who threatened to skin a Republican Erie County poll watcher alive has been sentenced to 10 months in prison.
West Chester-based QVC Group failed to meet a deadline to report annual financial information to the Securities and Exchange Commission. It has billions in debt and “substantial doubt” about its financial stability.
Six Delaware County towns are working together to create a regional EMS authority that would be funded by property owners.
East Whiteland will revise its data center zoning ordinance as public pushback continues to grow over a proposed 1.6 million-square-foot facility.
Philadelphians are kicking, defacing, and generally interfering with Uber Eats’ AI-powered delivery robots. It’s hitchBOT all over again.
Quote of the day
Over the course of three years, Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter developed a close bond with Aaron Barrett, a coach who was there for Painter’s road back to recovery from injury. But what were the odds that Painter would make his major league debut on the 12th anniversary of Barrett’s debut — and against Barrett’s former team, no less? “Meant to be!” Barrett said in a text.
🧠 Trivia time
Which soccer podcast is set to host a live taping in Philadelphia a month before the World Cup begins?
A) The Rest Is Football
B) Men in Blazers
C) FILTHYFELLAS
D) That Peter Crouch Podcast
Think you know? Check your answer.
What (and whom) we’re ...
🏛️ Explaining: What the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on conversion therapy could mean for Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
☕ Curious about: The unlikely marriage of coffee and sushi at a NoLibs omakase.
🍒 Watching: Philly-born Victoria Pedretti play the effusive and troubled Cherry in Forbidden Fruits.
🏀 Calculating: The best era in Philly sports history, according to our algorithm.
🇮🇶 Meeting: The Lions of Mesapotamia, the final team to qualify for this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Traveling beer garden
A POST PRANK
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Cathy Decherney, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Weeknights Live. This new city-sponsored initiative will focus on turning East Passyunk, Center City, and West Philly into live music destinations.
Photo of the day
Shoutout to Mother Nature for “flipping the switch” — the region now gets to see cherry and magnolia blossoms at the same time.
👋🏽 Have a great Thursday, and I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow to wrap up the week.
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