🎰 Sayonara, ‘skill games’| Morning Newsletter
And why Philly is the worst city for drivers.
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, Philly.
Today, slot machine-like “skill games” are officially illegal in Pennsylvania. We’re covering what that means, and we take you back in time to when a different kiosk game was a gambling scourge — pinball.
And, we’ve got your validation for the day: Yes, Philly IS in fact the worst U.S. city to drive in, according to a new survey.
Plus, The Inquirer obtained documents showing how another murder case against Eric Lewis fell apart years before he allegedly shot and killed a police officer, and more news of the day.
— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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In the early 1940s, restaurants and bars in Philly were under surveillance by police.
They were looking for pinball machines.
The machines of that era were spiced up with “electrical contrivances and gadgets” that turned them into “gambling devices,” wrote judges on the Pennsylvania Superior Court in 1942. Unlike today’s pinball, these machines had no flippers to control where the ball went, so the score was essentially chance.
Eventually, the state’s highest court banned some of the devices. In a decision this summer regulating slot machine-like “skill games,” Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court justices cited their predecessors’ decision on pinball.
Read on for civil courts reporter Abraham Gutman’s full archive dive.
And, wondering how today’s ban on “skill games” could be enforced? We got you.
Dead last.
That’s where Philadelphia ranked among the 100 most populous U.S. cities when it comes to “driver-friendliness,” according to a WalletHub survey.
Now, that metric wasn’t based on how often drivers cut one another off or lean on their horns. Instead, things like gas prices, time spent in traffic, and the likelihood of getting into a crash were all factors.
Here are some ways Philly stood out, for the worse:
⏳ 101 hours: How long, on average, Philly drivers spent sitting in traffic jams in 2025.
💸 $263: The average monthly car insurance premium in the city.
🚗 95th: Philly’s accident likelihood ranking, out of 100.
The Inquirer’s Erin McCarthy has the full story.
What you should know today
Eric Lewis, the man accused of killing Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber, was acquitted of another slaying in 2023 because police botched the case, District Attorney Larry Krasner said Tuesday.
A prominent Main Line restaurateur has been charged with unlawfully sharing intimate photos of his ex-girlfriend with her new boyfriend.
Only in Philly could a Democratic midterms fundraiser feature the governor, a former president, and the Eagles’ head of security, “Big Dom,” as one did this week.
In more midterm news, Elon Musk’s super PAC is spending $1.4 million to support the GOP candidates in three Pennsylvania congressional races.
More than four in five New Jerseyans said they support or strongly support voter ID requirements like presenting a driver’s license or state ID, a new poll has found.
Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery that confirmed he has lung cancer, the Vatican said Tuesday, the day an award bearing his name was presented in Italy by Villanova University president the Rev. Peter M. Donohue.
$837 million in public and private funds will be invested in the Port of Philadelphia, and the number of jobs there will nearly double, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Tuesday.
The Inquirer’s Al Lubrano traveled to central Pennsylvania to hear from voters weighing whether to reelect incumbent Republican congressman Scott Perry, or to endorse his Democratic challenger, former TV anchor Janelle Stelson, in a close contest.
🧠 Trivia time
Someone with the name “LeBron J.” got DoorDash from San Kee Peking Duck House in Chinatown on Sunday. The restaurant promptly took to social media to share “THE KING HAS SPOKEN 👑“ with a picture of the receipt. What was the order?
A) Roasted duck
B) Shrimp fried rice
C) Beef chow fun
D) Wonton soup
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re ...
🎟️ Scouting. Messina Social Club, a members-only restaurant and bar, is once again accepting applications, reports food writer Kiki Aranita.
🕵️♀️ Searching for. If you’re broke, bored at work, or interested in a challenge, there’s a treasure hunt in Philly. The Inquirer’s Jason Nark reports prizes are worth up to $10,000.
🏰 Imagining. What’s it like to vacation at the pope’s summer palace? Higher education reporter Susan Snyder got the lowdown from Villanova priests who consider Pope Leo a friend.
🦅 Shaking our heads at. The Eagles could be demoted from NBC’s Sunday Night Football primetime spot due to their disappointing performance, reports The Inquirer’s Rob Tornoe.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: This skyscraper was the first to climb higher than the William Penn statue atop Philadelphia City Hall.
ACNE BERYL POLITE
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Kristen Holly, who correctly guessed Tuesday’s answer: Sheryl Lee Ralph. The actress who plays Barbara Howard on ABC’s Abbott Elementary visited Abington this past weekend for a political event.
Did you know The Inquirer has a cooking series? It’s called Love at First Bite and it’s a nice little appetizer of a show. Watch local chefs pair off and develop a new recipe together for the The Inquirer’s second annual Food Fest. Episode 6 is on Instagram now.
👋 Well, now I’m hungry.
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