Still no SEPTA prosecutor | Morning Newsletter
❄️ And a snowstorm rolls in
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Friday is here, and so will be more snow. Expect temps to reach a high near 31.
A winter storm warning is in effect in and around Philadelphia through Friday night. We could get up to 6 inches of snow, but changes in forecast amounts are likely across the region. We’re bringing you the latest updates on the snowstorm’s impacts throughout the day at inquirer.com.
Last month, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a bill that requires the state attorney general to assign a special prosecutor to handle cases involving crime around SEPTA property in Philadelphia. The legislation says the AG must do this by Jan. 13, but that deadline has passed and no special prosecutor has been appointed.
Our lead story looks into the stalled rollout as crime continues on the city’s transit lines.
— Paola Pérez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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A new law compels Pennsylvania’s Attorney General’s Office to name a special SEPTA prosecutor. The fine print set a Jan. 13 deadline, but the position has not been filled nearly one week later.
Catch up quick: The measure would effectively strip power from District Attorney Larry Krasner, who has been accused of prioritizing criminal justice reform over fighting crime. And last week, Krasner sued in an effort to overturn the law as an unconstitutional move to block his authority and undermine the will of Philadelphia voters.
The role: The special prosecutor would be tasked with investigating and prosecuting crimes around SEPTA property in Philly through 2026 — the duration of Krasner’s current term.
A spokesperson for Attorney General Michelle Henry said “the position remains posted” as of Thursday, but did not elaborate or answer questions about where the hiring process stands.
Meanwhile, crimes persist on the city’s transit lines. A man was stabbed near the 15th Street Station early Thursday morning, and a teenager was shot and killed by a stray bullet at the same station last week.
Continue reading for more on the future of the controversial law.
Snow is expected to fall in Philadelphia throughout the day. Amounts will vary considerably around the region.
Up to 6 inches are possible, though forecast amounts are expected to shift. Philly should be “more in the upper end” of the ranges, according to Sarah Johnson, the warning coordination meteorologist in the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly office.
A citywide snow emergency goes into effect at 7 a.m. A winter storm warning is in effect for Philadelphia and all its adjacent counties; the only exceptions are outer parts of Montgomery and Bucks Counties, which are under an “advisory.”
Still, it appears roads should be in decent shape when the snow starts. The weather will affect both peak commuting periods today.
💡 Get essential tips for shoveling and salting your sidewalk
🚘 Make sure your car is prepped for the frigid cold
🌨️ Know how to brave a Philly winter at home or on the road
Read on for this weekend’s freezing forecast and visit inquirer.com for live coverage of the storm.
What you should know today
All Philadelphia School District school buildings will be closed Friday due to the snowstorm. No virtual learning is planned for the day.
Some Philadelphians are saying that the city still hasn’t finished cleaning up the mess from the last winter storm.
SEPTA is closing in-person ticket sales windows at 14 Regional Rail stations with low sales.
Charisse McGill, 42, founder of Lokal Artisan Foods (of French Toast Bites fame) and executive director of the Farmers Market Coalition, died unexpectedly on Monday.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the union representing faculty at 10 universities have reached an “agreement in principle” on a new four-year labor contract.
Penn Medicine surgeons successfully connected a functioning pig liver to the body of a recently deceased person, a pivotal test case for someday performing the procedure to help living patients.
N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy has called for Camden Advisory School Board president Wasim Muhammad to resign immediately, citing allegations that Muhammad abused a former female student for years. Muhammad’s attorney said Muhammad would take a leave of absence from the board, pending the outcome of the civil trial.
Your student loans could be fully canceled thanks to the SAVE repayment plan. Here’s how it works and see if you qualify.
🧠 Trivia time
Denzel Washington plays John Hobbes, a stylish, gum-chewing Philadelphia police detective confronting a serial killer, in which 1998 film?
A) Up Close & Personal
B) The Young Philadelphians
C) Fallen
D) A History of Violence
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we're...
🔎 Analyzing: Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first year in office.
🍜 Tasting: The best hot and cold ramen in Philly.
💍 Wondering: If Travis Kelce will take up Philly jeweler Steven Singer’s engagement ring offer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Grammy-nominated rapper from North Philly
CREAK WRAITH
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Marsha Suszkowski who correctly guessed Thursday’s answer: Bear Creek.
Photo of the day
That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Be safe, stay warm, and have a great weekend when you get there.
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