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Sixers end Nets series in style; Clergy sex abuse victims hold church leaders to account online | Morning Newsletter

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Sixers' Joel Embiid dunks against the Nets during the 3rd  quarter of Game 5 of the first round of the NBA playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Tuesday, April 23, 2019.  Sixers beat the Nets 122-100 to win the first round of the playoffs (4-1).
Sixers' Joel Embiid dunks against the Nets during the 3rd quarter of Game 5 of the first round of the NBA playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Tuesday, April 23, 2019. Sixers beat the Nets 122-100 to win the first round of the playoffs (4-1).Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer

    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 to everyone but Jared Dudley. Sixers fans may be busy basking in last night’s series-clinching win over the Nets, but this morning we have a look at the road ahead for Philly as they stare down the Raptors. On a more serious note, my colleague Jeremy Roebuck reports on the internet vigilantes (some abuse survivors themselves) holding church leaders to account in the wake of the clergy sex abuse crisis. It’s an important read.

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— Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)

The Sixers closed out their first-round playoff series against the Nets with a dominant 122-100 win Tuesday night. Their defensive effort stole the show, and fans handed Nets forward Jared Dudley plenty of boos.

But this is just the beginning — at least, that’s the hope for fans. The Sixers face the Toronto Raptors next, and many expect Philly to reach at least the Eastern Conference Finals.

The easy win over the Nets may have been fun, columnist Mike Sielski writes, but the Sixers need to put it behind them because the second round will be very different.

John F. Meyers, a former Roman Catholic priest in Philadelphia who was accused of sexually abusing a minor, was recently found to be working for an Arizona charter school system.

Emphasis on “was:” a group of internet sleuths, one a victim of clergy sex abuse herself, uncovered the record last week. Then the charter operator cut its ties with Meyers.

The group that prompted the investigation is just one of many online vigilante and watchdog websites that have sprung up as the clergy sex abuse crisis roils the church.

In a surprising move, former Philadelphia Sheriff John Green pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy charges Tuesday, just days before his planned retrial on allegations he steered contracts worth more than $35 million to a campaign donor in exchange for more than $1 million in benefits over nine years.

His about-face came a little more than a year after a trial in which Green denied those same allegations, and marshaled a defense that earned him acquittals on three of the five counts he faced and deadlocked the jury on the other two.

What you need to know today

  1. Charges against a former Glen Mills Schools counselor accused of beating a Philadelphia teenager at the juvenile facility last summer have been dismissed by a Delaware County judge.

  2. Overdose deaths involving methamphetamine and cocaine are on the rise in Philadelphia, and in many cases victims are pairing the stimulants with the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl.

  3. A new lawsuit accuses Valley Forge Military Academy and College and its then-leaders of looking the other way as a former cadet was hazed and abused.

  4. On Tuesday, New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver unveiled a 47-part plan for Atlantic City — this time developed with community members.

  5. Sunshine is returning to the city program to get residents to install solar panels. It’s re-launching this year with a new option for lower-income residents.

  6. After sinkholes reappeared in Chester County, regulators shutdown service of the Mariner East 1 pipeline. As of Tuesday, it’s back up and running.

  7. The Phillies didn’t have as good of a night as the Sixers, looking flat in a 9-0 loss to the Mets.

Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly

First the cherry blossoms, now the wisteria. Keep it up Philly.

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we’ll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out!

That’s Interesting

  1. Who’s ready for roller-skating, hammock-hanging and beer-drinking? Mark your calendars for the seasonal openings of Philly’s riverside destinations, from Cherry Street Pier to Spruce Street Harbor Park.

  2. The NFL Draft begins tomorrow and the Eagles have a lot of work to do. Don’t miss our interactive look at who could be pick No. 25.

  3. Philadelphia is creating an index of properties that deserve extra historic review before they could ever be demolished — and we’re drafting suggestions for Mayor Kenney. Send us your nominees for the city’s historic preservation shortlist.

  4. The recently revealed Mueller report includes a photo of a man used to promote “Miners for Trump” rallies in Pennsylvania. The man’s son says his dad would not have been happy.

  5. Just because the restaurant doors close doesn’t mean your favorite chefs and servers are done for the night. At industry nights throughout the city they gather to party after hours.

  6. Americans love snacks. (Admit it. Everyone has a favorite.) Luckily there are ways to do it healthily, whether you are kid or just eat like one.

Opinions

“But let’s be honest: The biggest problem surrounding Warren’s 2020 campaign has nothing to do with her. It is, rather, the mistake of everyday voters allowing their minds to be clouded by sexism and the paranoia over getting ‘Hillary-ed’ one more time.” — Columnist Will Bunch on Elizabeth Warren’s campaign for president and the sexist way we react to it.

  1. In 2016, columnist Helen Ubiñas started an annual gathering on the Art Museum steps to call attention to the impact of gun violence. This year she wants you to join in as Philly students take the lead.

  2. Dredging the Schuylkill River, a project seeking a final $400,000 in funding, is critical to saving rowing in Philadelphia, writes B.G. Kelley, a Philadelphia writer and rowing enthusiast.

What we’re reading

  1. It’s never a bad time to revisit the rules of recycling. Luckily Philadelphia Magazine has a breezy new guide to doing it the right way.

  2. Some good news for your mid-week slump: a new program is helping Philadelphia seniors stay in their homes without risking their health and safety, PlanPhilly reports.

  3. Who needs Coachella when you can hang in the Mojave desert with a bunch of people planning to live in space? Let the Los Angeles Times explain in a delightful read.

  4. Attention Game of Thrones fans: you’ll want to read Rolling Stone’s interview with Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams all about growing up on the set of the show everyone’s always talking about.

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