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 Sunday, Philly. It’s set to be cloudy, and showers may pop up in the afternoon.
Our main read follows a travel agent on her journey back to the city after war broke out in the Middle East.
Further on, meet a Dim Sum Garden waiter serving up something totally different in between shifts.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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When the sirens started ringing on Feb. 28, Mezgeron James was in Petra, Jordan, with a dozen friends. They were scheduled to return March 5.
James, a veteran travel agent from Southwest Philadelphia, said she had wanted to visit ancient and biblical sites in the Middle East, in part due to her Christian faith.
Now, caught in the middle of a war zone, James didn’t panic. She pivoted to forge a new path that would get her and the group back to the U.S. safely.
With James leading the way, they crossed from Eilat, Israel, to Taba, Egypt, by foot. Once they reached Cairo, they feared they were stuck.
In James’ own words: “I was never fearful. I trust in the Lord. I know you’re omnipresent.”
Follow their journey in Amy Rosenberg’s latest report.
🎤 Allow me to pass the mic to my colleague Dana Munro, and the Philadelphia server serenading diners on weekends.
Amid the tapping of chopsticks on dumpling trays and the rustling of smiley-faced to-go bags, a soaring tenor voice cuts above the cacophony of dinner service at Dim Sum Garden on a Friday night.
Riyan Pondaga, 38, sits on a stool in the middle of the dining room, gripping a cordless microphone. He is still wearing his serving uniform — black pants and a black T-shirt with a name tag. Eyes from every corner of the room slowly become trained on him.
As the lilting piano accompaniment of Alicia Keys’ power ballad “If I Ain’t Got You” flows from a speaker, Pondaga effortlessly scales the starting riffs, then seamlessly transitions into the verse.
“Some people need three dozen ro-o-o-o-o-oses and that’s the only way to prove you love them,” he belts into the mic — a tattoo climbing the side of his forearm reading “Thank GOD I’m a singer.” — Dana Munro
Get to know Pondaga and hear from customers on how he injects “a little whimsy” into their dining experience.
What you should know today
A Bensalem man was arrested this week for allegedly targeting women and underage girls for sextortion across the country using social media and dating apps.
A runway has reopened at Philadelphia International Airport after being shut down on Friday for repairs and causing substantial delays for arriving flights, officials said.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was cagey about his presidential aspirations in an appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher Friday night, but he spoke like someone who has his eyes set on 2028.
A Roxborough magnet middle school is one of 18 schools the Philadelphia School District has targeted for closure. Families don’t understand why.
Community College of Philadelphia’s board of trustees voted unanimously Thursday to raise tuition for the first time in nine years.
Uber customers would end up paying for the new rideshare fee proposed in Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s budget plan, the company said.
The University of Pennsylvania is aiming to expand undergraduate admissions access to military veterans and service members through a new initiative announced this week.
A Pennsylvania Hospital study found that people who took GLP-1 drugs for five years had slightly higher rates of osteoporosis and gout than those who did not.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she would not raise taxes on New Jerseyans, but when she made her budget pitch this week, it became clear that the promise didn’t extend to businesses.
Spring in Philly is not the same this year without Zitner’s candy, but there’s good news: The classic chocolatier has bought a new factory and will return after Easter.
❓Pop quiz
According to a new survey, more than ___ of U.S. consumers said they’d be in favor of a ban on tipping.
A) 25%
B) 30%
C) 40%
D) 45%
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re ...
🧀 Dishing on: An off-menu cheesesteak on Sansom Street, among the best things we ate this week.
🍷 Skipping: The Hamptons’ crowds to enjoy a low-key weekend in the North Fork.
🏠 Learning: How a mother and daughter bought a home together in Brewerytown for $375,000.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Philly’s most famous Irish barman
CAFE SURGERY
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Nick Malfitano, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Jalen Hurts. The Birds’ quarterback is “paying it forward” with his new children’s book, Better Than a Touchdown.
🎶 Today’s song goes like this: “You’re the life force I would die for, stay alive for / As we go through trying times.”
👋🏽 Thank you for starting your day with The Inquirer. Take care.