Your guide to the Phillies season | Morning Newsletter
And, the family trauma of crime cleanups.
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 from The Inquirer newsroom.
First: Happy Opening Day. We’ve got your whole Phillies season starter kit — with full analytical breakdowns and predictions.
Then: The trauma of cleaning up a crime scene that families of homicide victims endure adds another emotional and financial burden.
And: All Pennsylvanian adults will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this month, though the shift doesn’t affect Philadelphia’s plans.
— Ashley Hoffman (@_ashleyhoffman, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
Disappointment has lived at One Citizens Bank Way for some time now, and the team that plays in the biggest single-team TV market in baseball has gone so long without winning. We talked to the key players about this season’s big swing.
This is what to watch for this season, from our beat writers ...
Is it enough for the fascinating Bryce Harper to end the playoff drought and chase away postseason demons of his own? Is it enough for him to win that elusive playoff series? We dig into the stats.
You know the season is starting when Philly’s pastime of worrying about the bullpen is back. On the bright side, it looks as if after last season’s disappointments, rebuilding has helped vastly improve the team’s relief options.
How many games will the Phillies win? Will they make it to the playoffs? Who will have the winningest season? So many questions. Our beat writers make their predictions.
Here are five things to know as the Phillies welcome back fans — 550 days since the last time they were allowed at a game. Don’t worry: Beer and ice cream in the little helmet cups will be on the menu.
P.S. If you’re one of the fans headed to the park, it’s gonna be a chilly one, weather-wise.
In the days after Patricia Norris was murdered in her West Oak Lane home, her family was occupied with funeral arrangements as investigators finished collecting evidence. No one prepared the Norris family for what they’d find when they came back to the house to collect Patricia’s things in the aftermath.
As rates of gun violence soar, more Philadelphians are enduring situations like this, with no notice after a loved one is killed. Those responsible for the cleanup expose themselves to hardships and trauma, and they also have to pay for it.
Reporter Anna Orso has the story on the trauma of cleaning up a crime scene that families endure.
Daily coronavirus case counts in Philly have doubled in the last month. Track the spread here.
Symptoms of COVID-19, flu, common cold, and allergies can overlap. Here’s how to tell the difference.
Am I eligible to get vaccinated? Know the requirements for Philly, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
A fear of needles or injections may keep some from COVID-19 vaccine. This treatment can help.
Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Philly area? Use our lookup tool.
What you need to know today
All adults in Pa. will be eligible for the COVID-19 shot this month, the state announced. Also, the Philly suburbs will give out J&J shots, as Pa. backs off its mass clinic plan. The changes will not affect Philadelphia, which is distributing its vaccine independently.
President Joe Biden unveiled a multitrillion-dollar infrastructure push in Pittsburgh. Here’s how that could affect the region.
And with that mass infrastructure spending plan in mind, transportation officials in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are hoping for their share. Here’s what they say.
A judge found a North Philly landlord in contempt of court after locking residents out of their units again and failing to appear in court.
Failing to identify students experiencing homelessness can have severe consequences and Philly has a concerning track record.
The city cleaned up a PATCO homeless encampment site yesterday, and then allowed occupants to stay temporarily.
Through your eyes | #OurPhilly
Thanks for sharing this snapshot, @thewanderful.maggiemae. This spring just gets prettier and prettier.
Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we’ll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout-out!
That’s interesting
🍲 How these Philly restaurants are staying afloat.
🖼️ A Philadelphia Museum of Art curator talked to us about how the museum is working to diversify the collection.
🌇 Some of Philly’s skyline went dark at midnight last night to protect migrating birds.
Opinions
It’s Pro/Con time. Should a teen’s Snapchat video have made it all the way to the Supreme Court? Two professors discuss: Do we ultimately need to rely on the courts or schools to protect free speech?
“I dream of serving in the military, but can’t until Biden reinstates a program for noncitizen recruits,” writes Joey Antohi, who studies cybersecurity in Philadelphia.
Want America to grow? The energy answer is already lying underneath Pennsylvania’s soil, a former U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Carla Sands, writes.
What we’re reading
Tour 23 outdoor restaurants a.k.a. “streeteries” welcoming diners for the sunny season, mapped by Eater Philly.
The ship stuck in the Suez Canal is about more than memes. This editorial on the risks of long-distance supply chains in the New York Times lays it out.
The intense family drama Game of Thrones is set to become a live stage spectacular on Broadway, the Hollywood Reporter reports.
Your Daily Dose of | Turntables
The DJ Academy introduces the latest generation of Philly and Camden kids to the rich history of the role of the DJ.
“Together they gave the students something to look forward to,” said Karen Medina, an assistant director at After-School All-Stars. “Despite the pandemic and the political turmoil on the outside, for one hour a week it was all about the students and the music.”