Why transit failed in Harrisburg | Morning Newsletter
💰 And education funding shake-ups.
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 Friday, Philly.
Months of constituent phone calls, protests and rallies, and a state representative walking 105 miles in support of transit couldn’t will Pennsylvania legislators into making a long-term deal for SEPTA. Below, we dig into why Gov. Josh Shapiro and Democrats gave in to Republicans.
And President Donald Trump’s administration is cutting funding to minority-serving colleges. What does that mean for Philly-area schools? Plus, the Philadelphia School District borrows $1 billion, and more changes in local education.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
P.S. Friday means trivia. Our latest news quiz includes questions on Tiger Woods’ visit, “Phillies Karen,” and more.
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Despite months of pressure, the divided Pennsylvania legislature couldn’t agree on a long-term solution for easing SEPTA’s budget woes. The problem has instead been punted, with a stopgap plan — $394 million transferred from Department of Transportation capital funds — allowing the transit authority to maintain normal levels of service for two years.
What went wrong? As Democrats began to soften their demands and concede to Senate Republicans, the GOP took a harder line. There was never going to be a deal for a recurring revenue source, one Republican leader said this week, until SEPTA showed them evidence of its commitment to accountability and safety, even as SEPTA has been trying to address these issues on its own.
In the end, this year’s budget won’t have a single dollar increase for mass transit.
Philadelphia-area colleges and K-12 schools alike are navigating a slew of funding decisions this week.
💰 MSIs targeted: The U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday announced it would cut $350 million in discretionary funding meant for minority-serving institutions, calling their programs “discriminatory.” Community College of Philadelphia and Rutgers-Camden, which each serve large numbers of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, are among those likely to be impacted.
💰 Billion-dollar loan: The Philadelphia school board on Thursday moved to borrow up to $1.5 billion to pay the district’s bills on time, as the ongoing Harrisburg stalemate prevents state money from flowing to schools.
💰 Contract clinch: Philly teachers’ raises and bonuses are a lock now, as the school board signed off on the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers contract.
💰 Big raise: And Pennsylvania State University’s board committee approved boosting president Neeli Bendapudi’s compensation package by $1 million, to $2.8 million total.
What you should know today
A Liberian man who lived in South Jersey will serve nearly five years in prison for concealing his past as a rebel general.
The trial has begun for a Wynnefield teen accused of testing bomb detonators in Philadelphia and trying to join Syrian extremist groups.
A Philly campaign consultant pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud in relation to $2 million in pandemic loan applications.
A Senate committee voted on President Donald Trump’s nominee for Philadelphia’s top federal prosecutor, David Metcalf, for a second time.
David Hogg, the Parkland High School shooting survivor who recently made waves in the Democratic National Committee, suggested he‘s interested in recruiting a candidate to run in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans.
During fall’s first City Council meeting, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker allowed a controversial bill expanding an 11 p.m. business curfew beyond Kensington to become law without her signature. Another bill would make it easier for the city to cite and shut down so-called nuisance smoke shops peddling unregulated recreational drugs.
University of Pennsylvania researchers have found that a combination of common, generic drugs could be used to kill dormant breast cancer cells, preventing the disease from recurring.
Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.
This week, we have an explainer from reporter Henry Savage on the prevalence of Pennsylvania fireflies, aka lightning bugs. These blinking insects are usually easy to find around Philadelphia, thanks to the region’s hot and humid weather. But this summer, you might have seen (and caught) fewer than usual.
That might be due to habitat loss. The bugs enjoy open meadows near woods or water, as well as gardens with diverse, native vegetation. But they’re displaced by development — and mating can be disrupted by light pollution. Here’s the full story.
Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.
🧠 Trivia time
For decades, the Pennsylvania couple behind a major regional brand quietly collected art. Now their trove featuring Matisse and Picasso could fetch more than $180 million. Which company does the family run?
A) Herr’s
B) Weis Markets
C) Just Born
D) Crayola
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🔨 Remembering: When the precursor to the LOVE sculpture made its confounding debut.
💨 Learning about: This Penn study linking air pollution to more severe Alzheimer’s disease.
🚧 Noting: Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Bridge’s reopening date.
🏡 Finding out: If we’re losing thousands on property taxes.
🏈 Considering: The risk of spinal injuries as football season begins.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Higher ed institution in Glassboro, New Jersey
INTRUSIVE NORWAY
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Tia McDougal, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Iron Hill. The brewery founded in Newark, Del., nearly three decades ago has closed its flagship restaurant and two Philly-area locations.
Photo of the day
🦅 One last tuned-in thing: What’s most important to you when watching an Eagles game — big-screen TVs? Cheap wings? Craft beer? Find them all in this roundup of the best place to watch in Philly.
Thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer. Go Birds.
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