The crisis trapping Philly kids | Morning Newsletter
And a Wildwood motel love story.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
The streak of sunny clear skies continues with a high of 98 and a low of 73.
First, our new investigation into how a Department of Human Services office became a home of last resort for stranded children. Advocates and staff say it’s one of several inappropriate settings where kids are stuck — and unsafe.
Then, we’ll take a step back and toggle to a lighter story. It features love, motels, and the Jersey Shore.
Also, we didn’t correctly link yesterday’s story about race and class bias in Philly’s property assessments. That’s on us. Please give it some extra love, and let us know if inaccurate assessments have affected you.
— Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
A makeshift child-care room at a Philly DHS office is one of the many repercussions of bed shortages and more. Workers tell The Inquirer that children there aren’t safe, citing incidents of kids showing up high, assaulting staff, or leaving at night for illicit activity.
But this room is just a symptom of a struggling juvenile system. DHS staff cite staffing issues, license revocations, and a lack of leadership.
Our reporter Samantha Melamed breaks down how we got here.
If you don’t have time for the full investigation, check out these key takeaways.
What you should know today
The brother of two MOVE victims finally received their remains from the medical examiner’s office.
Pennsylvania approved more than $7 million in the state budget to fund an antiabortion organization — again.
Republicans say John Fetterman’s reliance on family money well into his 40s undercuts his blue-collar persona.
After 40 years, the Golden Dragon restaurant near Conshohocken is closing up shop.
Heat waves are causing trees to lose leaves prematurely.
Philly’s firefighters union wants unvaxed members to get eight hours of overtime pay each time they complete a weekly COVID-19 test.
And the Philly burbs are getting a new area code next month.
Local coronavirus numbers: Here’s your daily look at the latest COVID-19 data.
Meet Paul and Alethea Pawlowski. Alethea is the fourth generation of the same family that owns VIP (Visitors in Paradise) motel in Wildwood Crest. Paul’s family bought Compass right next door in 2000.
Two decades later, the two are married with a nearly 1-year-old daughter, Juliana, who they affectionately call “Little Miss 6500,” in reference to the block of Atlantic Avenue where both motels reside.
Our reporter Amy S. Rosenberg has more. Come for the romance, but stay for the wholesome pictures.
🧠 Philly Trivia Time 🧠
The late Vin Scully spent almost seven decades as the voice of the Dodgers. But he called his very first game at Shibe Park in North Philadelphia.
What year was it?
1952
1950
1957
1942
What we’re…
👀 Watching: How the Kansas abortion vote might impact Pennsylvania’s governor, Senate, and House races
📖 Reading: Everything you need to know about the Phillies’ latest hauls.
🥄 Craving: Water Ice from Siddiq’s. Be sure to check out our complete list of the best spots to get your fill.
🧩 Unscramble the Anagram 🧩
This Philly chef won the best mid-Atlantic chef James Beard Award earlier this year, and is a champion of immigrant rights.
INCRIMINATE TZARS
Think you know? Send your guess our way at morningnewsletter@inquirer.com. We’ll give a shoutout to a reader at random who answers correctly. Today’s shoutout goes to Kathy Quinn Gannon of Roxborough, who correctly guessed Jason Wingard as Tuesday’s answer.
Photo of the day
And that’s your Thursday. That’s all from me. In the meantime, I’ll peruse this list for my next read.
As always, thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. See you tomorrow ✌🏽