‘Sanctuary’ list confusion | Morning Newsletter
🎒 And elementary school improvement.
The Morning Newsletter
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Hi, Philly. Don’t skip the sunscreen this week, with sun and temps in the 80s expected.
The confusion around last week’s Trump administration release of a massive list of so-called sanctuary jurisdictions — which included Philadelphia and other cities and counties in the region — intensified Monday after the government removed the list from the internet.
And a North Philadelphia K-8 recently won a school district award after showing improved math and reading scores. Here’s how Robert Morris Elementary School made the gains.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday evening named 11 counties and five cities in Pennsylvania on a national list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” that it says are “deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
Yet on Sunday, that list disappeared from a Department of Homeland Security website, briefly reappeared on Monday morning, then disappeared again. It was still offline as of late Monday.
The list had already caused confusion by including some local governments that had never adopted immigration policies. It also faced criticism from the National Sheriffs’ Association for its potential to damage the relationship between the administration and law enforcement.
Read on to learn how officials in the region are responding to the administration’s moves.
In other politics news:
Pennsylvania Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick talked Israel, the border, and Trump’s tax bill in a televised forum Monday.
A new poll found Fetterman has low approval among the state’s Democratic primary voters.
Trump said he would support the GOP’s Dan Meuser for Pennsylvania governor — if he runs.
The Philadelphia School District honored North Philly’s Robert Morris Elementary among its best and most-improved schools. To some, that was a surprise.
🎒 Principal Tameron Dancy, though, knows a focus on the basics, consistency, and a supportive community has led to success.
🎒 The K-8’s awards mark improvement, not perfection. Its percentage of students in all grades who met state standards in reading are still at just 30%, up from 16%.
🎒 But those gains are especially significant for a school that has struggled with academic achievement, and where one in five students is experiencing homelessness.
Education reporter Kristen A. Graham spoke to Dancy and teachers about what’s working.
What you should know today
A body of a man was recovered early Monday from the Schuylkill near where a boater went missing Sunday night in Montgomery County, officials said.
The U.S. Supreme Court will not review the conviction of Temple University’s former business school dean who was found guilty of federal wire fraud following a rankings scandal.
The former CFO of now-defunct Philly-based lending company Par Funding was sentenced Monday to more than five years in prison for helping to deceive investors.
A Bucks County man stole more than $100,000 from 15 people with intellectual disabilities by abusing their trust over six years, authorities said.
A proposed new class-action lawsuit accuses Helium Comedy Club in Center City of incorporating “hidden ‘junk fees’” into the total price of shows.
As Temple closes in on completing the nearly 70 recommendations made in a campus safety audit over two years ago, president John Fry said he sees redevelopment along Broad Street as another key to improving safety.
Advocates of the U.S. Brig Niagara say Pennsylvania museum officials violated federal maritime code when they “gave up” the state ship to a Canada-based rigging company.
Listen up: The Inquirer’s Phillies Extra is now available as a podcast on Spotify and Apple.
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🧠 Trivia time
SEPTA appointed Scott A. Sauer as its permanent general manager Monday. What was Sauer’s first job with the transit agency?
A) Interim general manager
B) Chief operating officer
C) Manager of operational safety
D) Trolley driver
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🎶 Glad to see: Good vibes returned to the Roots Picnic Sunday after a messy Saturday.
🏈 Loving: Saquon Barkley’s reverse hurdle on the cover of Madden 26.
🎨 Heeding: Ed Rendell’s plea to keep “fighting for the city.”
🌚 Visiting: Shay’s Steaks’ second Center City location late at night.
⚕️ Considering: This pitch to appoint a nurse as the U.S. surgeon general.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Philly’s 50th annual African cultural celebration
AUDIT SEVENFOLD
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Kimberly Quinn, who solved Monday’s anagram: John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. The site’s Dike Trail is one of several local hikes recommended by readers after The Inquirer published its guide to the best trails around Philly.
Photo of the day
Here’s to clear days full of self-reflection. Back at it tomorrow.
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