The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Rise and shine, Philly. Mother‘s Day is shaping up to be a beautiful one this sunny Sunday.
When Robert F. Prevost arrived at Villanova University, the Catholic school was about to undergo a social upheaval. The future Pope Leo XIV watched it all unfold. Our main read takes us to campus in the 1970s.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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In 1973, Prevost was just an 18-year-old math whiz from Chicago’s South Side, ready to begin his freshman year.
He arrived at Villanova at a time of significant social change in history, the school just outside of Philadelphia at a cultural crossroads. While campus protests swept the nation, students at Villanova were clashing with religious leaders over what they considered conservative outdated policies.
As a student, the future pope had a front-row seat to this institutional identity crisis. And perhaps in parallel to the way Prevost witnessed the school’s reckoning, he now faces becoming the leader of a divided Catholic Church.
Go back in time with reporters Max Marin, Beatrice Foreman, Jesse Bunch, and Nick Vadala to learn what life was like at Villanova when the future Pope Leo XIV found himself on campus.
Further reading:
Villanova’s Vatican interns: One had a hunch Prevost would become the next pope.
Philly faithfuls at Mass: Attendees prayed a pope with local ties can aid “the well-being of the world.”
Heartbreak and acceptance: Some local Filipinos were disappointed with the new pope announcement.
🎤 Now I’m passing the mic to state government reporter Gillian McGoldrick.
Pennsylvania’s biggest race this election year won’t be on the primary ballot.
The candidates won’t have political parties listed. And they can’t even campaign to say what they will do if reelected.
Three justices on the state Supreme Court are up for retention in November, when voters will decide whether the judges should be retained for another 10-year term in what historically is an apolitical, low-turnout affair. This year, however, the races are some of Pennsylvania’s most watched, as grassroots and establishment Republicans — including a rumored interest from President Donald Trump’s billionaire adviser Elon Musk — have already staked a claim in an effort to vote out the Democratic judges in hopes of building a GOP-controlled court by the 2028 presidential election.
The current makeup of the state Supreme Court is a 5-2 liberal majority.
Democratic Justices Kevin Dougherty, Christine Donohue, and David Wecht are all up for retention this year to serve another term on the powerful court. And for the first time, Democrats are worried about holding onto their seats. — Gillian McGoldrick
Read more on the outsized influence of Musk and others on these judicial races as their roles grow more politicized.
What you should know today
A boy was shot to death Saturday afternoon in West Oak Lane, according to police, who released few other details.
Four children were among those shot and wounded on a SEPTA bus Saturday evening in Fairmount Park by a man who then fled, according to transit officials.
A cyclist who was struck and killed Thursday morning in West Philadelphia has been identified as Jeffrey Ishibashi of Lansdowne. Ishibashi is the city’s second known bicycle death of 2025.
Philadelphia and state lawmakers wanted to hear from local university leaders on how their institutions are dealing with the Trump administration targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion, but no one showed up on Friday.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s primary opponents came to his defense after the Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor was arrested at an ICE detention center. Republicans in the race took the opportunity to go on the offense.
A new campaign finance report shows the super PAC spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat District Attorney Larry Krasner‘s reelection campaign is funded primarily by donors from the real estate industry and construction trades unions.
Penn Medicine hired 43 physicians-in-training who were displaced by the shutdown of bankrupt Crozer Health this month, including an entire family medicine group.
Temple men’s rowing won its 22nd men’s varsity eight title at the 86th annual Thomas Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta on Saturday, securing its first win in the division since 2021.
Two iconic shelters on Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Trail are slated for demolition by the National Park Service sometime in 2026.
❓Pop quiz
Asif Ali, star of Hulu’s Deli Boys and standup comedian, went on a hoagie crawl during his comedy tour stop in Philadelphia.
Which shop did Ali not try?
A) Dattilo’s Delicatessen in Northeast Philly
B) Ricci’s Hoagies in South Philadelphia
C) Mama’s in Bala Cynwyd
D) Middle Child in Center City
Think you know? Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: School in Center City
COCOON NIHILIST THOUGHTS
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Cathy Garrett-Davis who correctly guessed Saturday‘s answer: Newark Liberty. Air traffic controllers directing planes into the New Jersey airport briefly lost their radar Friday morning for the second time in two weeks, renewing concerns about the nation’s aging air traffic control system that President Donald Trump wants to overhaul.
Philly artist Aimee Koran creates art that demands a better world for moms and recognition for their invisible labor. This time, she has designed a very cool “space suit” uniform for toddler moms. And in further honor of new moms, a pop-up in South Philly Saturday provided free strollers, breast pumps and more, along with advocacy for paid parental leave.
❤️ Mother‘s Day looks different for everyone, so it’s worth remembering that today may not be easy for some. Whatever your situation looks like, I’m sending you love and a warm hug. And special thanks to all the awesome moms and maternal figures out there.
🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “They don’t make them like you where I’m from.” Sunday (1994) brought their dreamy debut tour to Johnny Brenda’s Saturday night, and the crowd gave them a very Philly welcome: We chanted the Eagles’ fight song.
👋🏽 That’s it for now. Take care.