Pa. will reopen by summer | Morning Newsletter

First: Pa. is reopening just in time for summer.

Then: With the Pa. primary just two weeks away, the race for Philly DA is “closer than Larry wants,” a high-ranking labor official who’s staying neutral tells us.

And: If you’re out and about, the siren call of Dine Latino Restaurant Week is back today, and this day could end with a guava margarita and a “your table is ready.”

— Ashley Hoffman (@_ashleyhoffman, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

After a year of restrictions, Pa. is about to become (almost fully) unrestricted on Memorial Day, the Department of Health announced Tuesday.

As of 12:01 a.m. May 31, the state’s restaurants, stores, and other businesses can open at 100% capacity, and crowd-size limits will be lifted on indoor and outdoor gatherings. Schools won’t be required to submit documentation of coronavirus prevention measures to the state anymore. Mandatory mask-wearing in public is a keeper, and it will be until 70% of residents 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

In all, 4.26 million Pennsylvanians — 42% of the adult population — are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Philly, however, will keep restrictions in place and review the state’s policy as officials work on their own reopening plan.

Read on for reporters Erin McCarthy and Justine McDaniel’s story on all the details on Pennsylvania’s reopening.

The big question with just two weeks to go before the Democratic primary election is whether challenger Carlos Vega can find enough support among Krasner’s critics to overcome the DA’s support from a coalition of progressives and Black voters.

Can Vega beat Krasner? Many interviewed for this story said yes. But will Vega beat Krasner? Far fewer would cough up a prediction ahead of May 18.

Krasner has a reputation as the answer to those who believe criminal justice reform is necessary to address systemic inequality in a city that’s currently one of the most incarcerated in America. His detractors say Krasner’s policies as DA have fueled the surge in homicides and gun crimes plaguing the city. In fact, Vega is placing the blame squarely on Krasner’s shoulders, despite the surge in violent crime across the country during the pandemic.

This has all set the stage for one of this month’s most high-stakes elections against the backdrop of a pivotal moment for the city.

To gather the fullest possible account of how the race is playing out, reporters Chris Brennan and Sean Collins Walsh bring you the viewpoints of high-ranking officials and operatives who know this showdown best. They stop short at questions about who will win, but they did talk signs.

🆕 Do kids and teens get side effects from the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine?

This is what we know about rare “breakthrough” COVID-19 infections in vaccinated people.

Here’s what you need to know about taking allergy medicines before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Here’s when you need to wear a mask, according to CDC guidance. We broke it down with our expert-informed guide, whether or not you’re vaccinated.

Where can you get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Philly area? Use our lookup tool.

Getting so fancy on us. Thanks for sharing.

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!

☀️ New “normal” temperatures for Philly are hotter in summer, milder in winter. But “normal” is not your average concept.

🎁 Should you be comping your mom onto a private wine tasting or a tower of golden boxes filled with bakery treats? We have a list of gifts that can be delivered straight to her ahead of Mother’s Day.

🏐 A case study on a volleyball tournament that came to Philadelphia last month provides a model on holding events during the pandemic.

🍪 Treat yourself to only the best treats from the classics to innovative in our list.

“It’s necessary to start labeling false media propaganda as a direct threat to press freedom,” columnist Trudy Rubin writes, saying that outright GOP lies are threatening the future of media in this country.

Goodwill Helms Academy enables people whose job or life prospects were stymied by not getting a high school diploma to not only earn one, but also to earn credits from community colleges in Philadelphia and South Jersey while they do. Goodwill is in the name, after all.