🏳️🌈 Protecting marriage equality in Pa. | Morning Newsletter
And worry about disrupted commutes.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Today, it might feel like it really is always sunny in Philadelphia. Expect clear skies and temps in the 70s.
Marriage equality is not currently protected in Pennsylvania law. Legislators are trying to change that as the U.S. Supreme Court considers taking up a case to overturn same-sex marriage nationally.
And SEPTA cuts are already impacting the Philly workforce. As some employers are figuring out how to support their workers, others are reconsidering if the city is right for their business.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
P.S. This one’s for you, football fans: Have questions about the Eagles’ roster cuts and 53-man roster? Sports reporter Olivia Reiner will stop by the r/Eagles subreddit today at 9 a.m. ET to answer them. Submit your questions here.
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Democratic lawmakers in both the Pennsylvania House and Senate are advancing legislation to protect same-sex marriage in the state.
The move comes as the U.S. Supreme Court was asked to consider taking on a case that could overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 landmark ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The Marriage Equality Act, if passed, would add an extra layer of protection for the LGBTQ+ community in Pennsylvania if Obergefell is jeopardized by the conservative-majority court.
Democrats have unsuccessfully tried for years to enshrine same-sex marriage into state law, which currently defines marriage as “a civil contract by which one man and one woman take each other for husband and wife.” With this latest threat, their efforts have taken on a new urgency.
Politics reporter Fallon Roth has the story.
In other state government news: With the school year underway, Pennsylvania’s biggest teacher union blamed state lawmakers Tuesday for using students as “bargaining chips” during the ongoing budget impasse.
We’re now on the fourth day of SEPTA’s 20% service reduction. Business leaders and union representatives are concerned about how well workers will be able to navigate the cuts, especially those who travel via public transportation and must transfer between adjusted routes.
Disrupted commutes: Consider the case of Penn Medicine, one of the city’s largest employers and health systems. Around 10,000 employees out of 50,000 use mass transit to get to their jobs, an exec estimated. As the organization monitors and applies fixes as needed, it’s also encouraging staff who must drive to carpool with colleagues — which isn’t feasible for everyone.
Not just employees: Penn Medicine patients take SEPTA to medical appointments, too. Some on Monday requested to switch in-person visits to telehealth to avoid potential transit challenges.
Long-term concerns: With headaches expected to compound and no clarity on when — or whether — full transit options will be restored, some employers are wondering if operating in the city is in their companies’ best interests, the head of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia told The Inquirer.
Plus, an eye on the arts: The fall arts season is about to begin. Will cuts to SEPTA mean a loss of audiences?
What you should know today
Abington School District faces a lawsuit from two women who say it was negligent in stopping abuse by a school resource officer, according to a new lawsuit.
A Bethlehem firefighter has entered the crowded field of Democrats vying for Congress in the Lehigh Valley. He’s been endorsed by Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Cancer survivors and researchers spoke on Independence Mall Tuesday about the importance of federally funded trials in the face of President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health.
A prominent election denier who led an unsuccessful effort to cancel the votes of hundreds of Pennsylvanians last year now holds a top “elections integrity” post at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Philly District Attorney Larry Krasner criticized Trump’s executive order targeting cities that use cashless bail, calling the move an “authoritarian power grab.”
A directory designed by Penn Medicine and WURD Radio to help people of color find doctors in Philadelphia will change its name after a conservative nonprofit sued.
Philly school police officers are still negotiating their union contract, which expires Sunday. Among their asks are better training and new uniforms. Plus: The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers’ new contract includes 3% raises, parental leave, and an easier path up the pay scale.
Republic of Korea President Lee Jae Myung visited Hanwha Philly Shipyard Tuesday, joining U.S. officials to detail an evolving trade, investment and military partnership.
Quote of the day
A brush with breast cancer prompted this South Jersey woman to open a mobile bookstore. The 98-square-foot trailer, which is inspired by Jane Austen’s sitting room, will make its debut on Sept. 5 at the Cherry Hill Mall.
🧠 Trivia time
A miniature model of which Fishtown landmark has been proposed for the corner of Berks and Memphis Streets?
A) Johnny Brenda’s
B) Penn Treaty Park
C) St. Laurentius Roman Catholic Church
D) The JD Vance mural
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
💍 Congratulating: Berks County native Taylor Swift on her engagement.
🌭 Plotting: Our Phillies plans for 2026 via the newly released schedule.
🦅 Tuning in to: Retired Eagles star Brandon Graham’s new TV gig.
🥃 Waiting to see: If the PLCB’s lost court case means cash for wine and spirit customers.
📚 Considering: How slavery’s legacy still shapes our present.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Center City skyscraper above Suburban Station
PREEN NONE CENT
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Maria McCloskey, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Big Dom. Birds chief security officer Dom DiSandro has a winning thoroughbred horse named after him.
Photo of the day
🥾 One last patched-up thing: When someone broke his Center City shoe shop’s window, owner Steve Jamison saw a head-turning opportunity. Columnist Stephanie Farr calls the window dressing “part vandalism, part guerrilla marketing, and 100% Philly ingenuity.”
Walk on to the rest of your day. Thanks for starting it with The Inquirer.
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