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. Saturday should be sunny, followed by clouds rolling in overnight.
A reader asked us for advice on dealing with an overly involved parent at school drop-off.
Plus, we’re talking about “Cybercabs” spotted in Philly, the closure of a Center City steak shop, and our report card for this week in local news.
Scroll along for these stories and more.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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What you should know today
Philadelphia health officials warned that people may have been exposed to measles at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in West Philadelphia last week.
City Councilmember Kendra Brooks is considering challenging Mayor Cherelle L. Parker in the spring Democratic primary election, sources tell The Inquirer.
Popular DJ and radio show host Mike Bowe has died. He spent more than 40 years at Philadelphia stations. He was 76.
Tesla’s gold, driverless Cybercabs seem to be testing on city streets. There’s no steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors, and it is piloted by AI.
A longtime Rittenhouse Square grocery store is behind on its rent. Neighbors are stepping in to help.
Shay’s Steaks, the Logan Square eatery connected to embattled city judge Scott DiClaudio, will close next week as part of a settlement of an eviction battle with its landlord.
Society Hill neighbors will spend about $54,000 on a traffic study of neighborhood roads and the city’s proposal to enhance protections for bike lane users.
A four-story, 35-unit apartment project is slated for East Germantown, part of a wave of development proposals in the area after decades of divestment.
From PHL landing in last place for a sixth straight year to a 57-year-old typo that may be here to stay, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.
This week’s dilemma reads: At school drop off, a mother likes to hover around the kids and discipline all of them for every little thing. If there were any actual issues, we’d step in of course, but if they’re bumping into each other on purpose and laughing, for example, she tells them things like, “Stop doing that it’s almost school time!” or “Francesca doesn’t like that!” (Not the kid’s real name.) Also it’s very clear that Francesca does in fact like it, so we just tell our kids it’s fine. The mom stands right over her daughter and says things like, “We don’t do that, right?” It’s very performative and very annoying.
Now I respect that she can parent her kid however she wants to, but forcefully talking to our kids is driving some of us nuts. I believe kids usually can and should work out issues amongst themselves (again, though, we haven’t actually seen an issue!). She’s not only a helicopter parent, she’s a military-helicopter parent hovering over her kid and attacking the rest. Do we just keep telling our kids it’s fine and maybe, in private, tell them to not listen to her or do we take her aside and tell her what’s what?
This situation got the attention of life and culture reporters Zoe Greenberg and Mike Newall. They discussed what may motivate a “performative parent” and ways to set boundaries with kindness and compassion.
“You don’t parent other people’s kids,” Newall said. “Unless the kid is in danger or a danger to someone else.”
Jump into the group chat here. And if you need advice, or just want to share your thoughts, we want to hear it. Email us here.
The Inquirer Editorial Board has endorsed Larry Krasner to lead the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office in previous elections.
But the board now writes that it believes Krasner “has created an untenable situation that could impact the treatment of crime victims and wrongdoers.”
“A series of legal setbacks has cast doubt on Krasner’s ability to administer fair and impartial justice, let alone manage his office,” the board argues.
❓Pop quiz
Superman star David Corenswet grew up in Philadelphia loving the Eagles, but that didn’t stop him from saying yes to donning a jersey for this team in the forthcoming biopic, Mr. Irrelevant.
A) New York Giants
B) Dallas Cowboys
C) Baltimore Ravens
D) Washington Commanders
Think you know? Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Philly-founded coffee company
ALEC BLOOM
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Melinda Williams, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Independence Hall. The official naming of the United States will be remembered at a “firstival” there today.
A group of Philly-area women — many in their 70s and 80s — have banded together as the scrappiest dragon-boating team on the Schuylkill.
The Inquirer’s Dugan Arnett takes us along for a ride with the “renegades” of the river.
Somewhere on the internet in Philly
🎤 People are closely watching developments to Ed Sheeran’s tour stop in South Philadelphia on Saturday. As of Friday afternoon, his concert at the Linc is still on. It’s slated to start later (so perhaps there are no openers) and protesters plan to rally outside the stadium.
🤔 Redditors caught a now-deleted Facebook post by Visit Philly that featured a peculiar “Philadelphia” skyline.
🎟️ SEPTA is giving away two tickets to the Phillies’ Sept. 25 game. Fingers crossed for Red October.
👋🏽 That’s it for now. Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.
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