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. It should be a sunny day with a high near 87, and an overall reprieve from storms and elevated smoke levels.
Our main Sunday read is about a Shore town’s transformation and why its residents are divided.
Later on, we hear from Philly alt-rock star Kurt Vile on his love for the city, and why he made it the focus of his new album.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
Sea Isle’s raucous old party days are gone.
To some, its newfound maturity can feel like a betrayal, or as a sign that the town is growing up.
For instance, blue-collar neighbors say the town’s upscaling comes at a cost, and that it no longer feels like a “workingman’s beach.” Property values have skyrocketed, bringing new revenue to the town while also making the place feel oversaturated.
And on any given busy summer weekend, Sea Isle can swell to 70,000 people, compared to its year-round population of 2,019.
“Is it still pleasant on Pleasure Avenue?” asks Shore reporter Amy Rosenberg.
Read Rosenberg’s story for more on Sea Isle’s identity and how it has changed due to its success.
Philadelphia’s Been Good To Me.
That’s the name of Kurt Vile’s new album, marking yet another spotlight on the city in his music.
Ahead of a show with his band the Violators at Connor Barwin’s Make the World Better Concert on July 25, pop critic Dan DeLuca spoke with Vile about the roots of his record and much more, including:
🎸 His top five Philly artists. Two of them are Purling Hiss guitarist Mike Polizze and psychedelic folk singer Meg Baird.
💿 His thoughts on the streaming era. He’s a fan of physical media, but likes that fans can listen to his entire catalog on demand. “I can tell that they know all of my music,” Vile said. “I just feel that people are connected.”
🌳 What he loves about his neighborhood. “I love that there’s forest, and I have room to think.”
What you should know today
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency opened three resource centers this weekend in Philadelphia to aid the hundreds of people who experienced damage from last weekend’s major storms.
Taylor Farms is recalling iceberg lettuce that had been shipped to retailers in 27 states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, due to potential contamination of the cyclospora parasite.
Citing safety concerns for staff and visitors, the Trump administration is tightening security at the President’s House after the exhibit swap.
A Mayfair man was arrested and charged in connection with an arson attack last week at a Northeast Philadelphia mosque.
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that New Jersey’s bans on assault firearms and magazines holding more than 10 rounds are unconstitutional.
A real estate developer sued a South Jersey township for $300 million after it banned data centers. Now, the case has moved to federal court.
A ship-repair company’s long-term contract with General Dynamics Electric Boat is expected to sustain about 700 jobs in Philadelphia through work on U.S. Navy submarines.
Lawmakers in Harrisburg have funded the SEPTA special prosecutor position through the end of the year, but the office’s fate beyond that is uncertain.
Despite concerns about hazardous air conditions, a Guinness World record-breaking crowd attended comedian Shane Gillis’ Friday night show at the Linc.
🎤 Here’s Tommy Rowan with a look back at the defiant Phillies fan who helped make foul balls a ballpark souvenir.
It may be important to note that Bob “Toughie Reds” Cotter did not pay for his ticket to that fateful Phillies-Cubs game on July 18, 1923.
The kid and his brother, Raymond, climbed up a rain spout and into the ramshackle ballpark unofficially nicknamed (derisively by The Inquirer) “Baker Bowl.”
But not paying the price of admission seemed to pale in comparison to his attempt at taking home the foul ball he caught in the right-field stands.
Read on for the full story.
❓Pop quiz
Temple University said a record number of first-year students submitted deposits ahead of the fall semester.
What’s the deposit cost?
A) $200
B) $50
C) $300
D) $750
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re ...
🌭 Devouring: Dog Days hot dog specials, among the best things we ate this week.
🏀 Reading: How Sixers executive Mike Gansey earned LeBron James’ respect back in high school.
🏆 Debating: Who will win Sunday’s World Cup final. (Paola’s prediction: Spain 3, Argentina 2, in extra time).
🏡 Inspired by: A North Philly man’s quest to own in his hometown became a reality in our latest “How I Bought This House” series.
🍨 Thanking: Philadelphia for ice cream sodas and root beer floats.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
It’s the ultimate Philly cooking bible.
Hint: 🐸
GASSY MICROFORM
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Richard Verbit who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Kai Wagner. The Union and Wagner made the surprising decision to get back together. He’s happy to return — and to be one of the team’s leaders.
🎶 Today’s song goes like this: “Gather on the hillside / The wind knows all of our names.”
👋🏽 That’s it for now. Thanks for reading, and have a good one.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
