The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Welcome to Saturday. Low temps and high wind gusts will make for an extremely cold weekend.
Ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, Inquirer staffers assist a vegetarian with a chicken wing dilemma.
But first, there’s news about lawmakers criticizing President Trump for posting a racist video, the impact of accumulating ice in the region’s waterways, and our report card for this week in Philly news.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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What you should know today
Gov. Josh Shapiro voiced strong opposition to the purchase of a Berks County warehouse that may be used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain people. He said Pennsylvania is exploring legal options to block the move. Meanwhile, Narberth’s borough council voted unanimously to bar the municipality’s police officers from assisting ICE in immigration enforcement.
Philadelphia International Airport CEO Atif Saeed is stepping down, just as the city prepares for an expected influx of tourists this year.
Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Democrat Sen. John Fetterman were among an ensemble of lawmakers condemning President Donald Trump for posting a racist video about the Obamas.
Ice has clogged up the Philadelphia region’s waterways, and it’s only going to intensify over the next three days.
A skill game industry executive who took kickbacks from illegal gambling machine operators throughout Pennsylvania pleaded guilty this week in Cumberland County to money laundering.
Sonder, the buzzy short-term rental company, is no more. But some of its former properties across Philadelphia are taking on new lives.
A new Burlington location is coming to South Philadelphia — with a new store format.
Dive bar owner Lou Capozzoli of Southwest Philly died Sunday at 86. Family and friends remember him as a music lover with a penchant for telling jokes.
KnuckleMania VI hits the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday. Meet some of the Pennsylvania fighters who will be competing on the big stage.
Between winter refusing to leave and spring training restoring hope, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.
Superb Owl. Benito Bowl. Whatever you’re calling it, the stakes are high for Sunday’s championship game.
By now, most Eagles fans may have cycled through the five stages of grief and decided on who they’re rooting for (ahem, reconsider if it’s the Patriots). But one reader wrote The Inquirer to ask about how to handle a viewing party problem: My friend assigned me to bring wings for our Super Bowl potluck, but I’m a vegetarian. Can I bring tofu wings?
To help, editor Evan Weiss recruited life and culture reporters Abigail Covington and Zoe Greenberg. Zoe is the only vegetarian in the group, and her initial response says it all: “The idea of tofu wings disturbs me deeply.” Personally, I won’t knock it till I try it, but I trust her judgment. Buffalo cauliflower wings are a good option, too.
I also concur with the trio on a glaring problem, namely, what sort of friend (who knows your dietary restrictions) puts you on wing duty in the first place? It may have been a mistake, but it’s confusing to put someone in this position. Evan pointed out that this fowl request is like asking “a nondrinking friend to bring wine.”
Read along for my colleagues’ full chat. And if you’re looking for advice (or just want to share your takes), we’re all ears. Send in your pressing questions here.
One viewpoint
Housing is up for debate in Harrisburg, in step with Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s ambitious housing plan.
In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks a plan within Gov. Shapiro’s $53.2 billion state budget that would drive the construction of more homes in local communities.
“There’s just one problem: Many housing experts say Shapiro’s ideas won’t move the needle on production,” Pearson writes.
Read on for Pearson’s perspective on the proposal, as well as other happenings in City Council and the Philadelphia School District.
đź“Ť Find the location
Think you know where this car was encased in ice? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly places to the test. Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Northwest Philly (one word)
BOX GRO HOUR
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Amy Simms who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Swarthmore. The Delaware County borough’s public library system has officially done away with overdue fees, joining a growing contingent of libraries that say the fines do more to drive patrons away than to get them to return their books on time.
Transportation reporter Tom Fitzgerald is back with his series answering readers’ questions about what the … heck … is going on with Philly’s roads and transit systems.
This time, he went to one of the city’s busiest intersections and the site of the highest number of crashes involving pedestrians in the last two decades.
Hear Tom talk about what the city is doing to improve street safety, and join the conversation.
Somewhere on the internet in Philly
Ever wondered why a mural of the Statue of Liberty features the flag of Puerto Rico? This reel explains its history.
In a debate for the most beautiful street in Philadelphia, Jessica Boyington made a pretty good case for the spot where she got engaged. 🥺
And may this adorable post warm all our hearts: “Philly is warmth, community, tradition, and love. It’s history, culture, and heart in every block.”
👋🏽 That’s it for now. I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.
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