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. There’s a chance of showers throughout the day, and a high near 63.
“Is there any meal in this city worth a humiliation ritual?” Inquirer writers discuss what to do when an “ex” marks the dinner date spot.
Plus, we have news on Spirit Airlines’ potential shutdown, a first-of-its-kind Yemeni coffee shop planning to debut in Philly, and our report card for this week in Philly news.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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What you should know today
Philly Sheriff Rochelle Bilal told City Council that delays in processing deeds for winning auction bidders have been fixed. Buyers say that’s not true.
Police arrested a sixth person in connection with a mass shooting in South Philadelphia last summer that left three people dead and 10 others wounded.
Spirit Airlines is preparing to cease operations after running out of money and failing to secure operational funding. President Donald Trump said he’s still weighing a deal to bail out the budget airline. Here’s what we know so far and how Philadelphia could be affected.
A new report found that much of Philadelphia is not a childcare desert, but access is lacking in a number of the city’s suburbs.
Philadelphia State Rep. Chris Rabb is disavowing and distancing himself from a December post on his Instagram account that promoted an antisemitic conspiracy theory about the Hanukkah massacre in Australia’s Bondi Beach.
A Philly Twitch streamer was hit by a car this week while livestreaming his charity walk from Philadelphia to California. “We’re going to finish this race,” he said in an Instagram video from a hospital bed.
Bankruptcy, eviction, and a family split reshaped the Kibitz Room deli. Now, the Cherry Hill location is back in operation under familiar hands.
The original Iron Hill Brewery is being transformed into an upscale steakhouse fit for a college town.
Qahwah House, the chain that launched the boom of Yemeni coffee in the U.S., will open its first area location in Old City.
From restaurants considering a mandatory 20% service charge during the World Cup to the chaotic life of Philly sports fans, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.
This week’s question is: The person I’m seeing took me to [Rittenhouse restaurant name redacted] three times in a row, and the third time I said I thought our server was nice. He said, “Yeah, you know she’s my ex?” I did not know that. He looked surprised that I did not know, but he also never told me. So we just keep going to the restaurant where his ex works? Am I part of a psychological experiment?
To break down this bizarre situation, features columnist Elizabeth Wellington linked up with arts and entertainment reporter Rosa Cartagena.
Their bottom line: Something weird is going on, and it must be addressed. Returning to the restaurant is out of the question. That’s three times too many without an up-front conversation about the proverbial elephant in the room.
The way I see it? The deception makes it harder to trust the best of intentions here. Rosa put it plainly: “Find someone who’s not playing games in your face and who’s open to trying new restaurants.”
Read my colleagues’ full chat here. And if you need advice, or just want to share your thoughts, we want to hear it. Email us here.
Philadelphia has reached one year without a commerce director in City Hall. It’s time to hire one as the city prepares to welcome a major wave of tourism in the coming months, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson writes.
In this week’s Shackamaxon, Pearson unpacks Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s history with slow hiring, as well as his perspective on how power can insulate some from criticism or leave those without it “hanging out to dry.”
📍 Find the location
The Broad Street Run kicks off tomorrow. Think you know where these runners are heading? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets and places to the test. Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Controversial leftist streamer
PAIN SHAKER
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Carol Basile, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Olivia Rodrigo. The songwriter and pop star behind “Driver’s License” is coming to South Philly for two shows this fall.
Staff photographer Yong Kim captured the moment Jack Brod, of Newtown, linked up with Flyers defenseman Cam York to reunite York with his hockey stick.
York had tossed it into the audience after scoring the series-clinching overtime winner on Wednesday, inadvertently whacking a few people in the stands.
“It’s way more important to [York] than it could ever be to me,” Brod said. York gifted him a signed stick, jersey, and playoff tickets in return. Watch the video of their encounter.
Somewhere on the internet in Philly
⭐ 52nd Street Station witnessed the battle of the Philly Michael Jacksons.
🦉 Reddit is raving over a rare sighting of a long-eared owl. I love the way it’s staring right into our souls. “This owl may be rare, but they are right at home here with that mean mug,” one reply said.
🏒 And superstitious sports fans are doing their part to manifest victory for several games this weekend. Even Philly’s most famous flag-maker is Flyered up.
👋🏽 Have a great day, and I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.
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