Trump is gone. What now for Pa.? | Morning Newsletter
And, a Jersey bar band’s touching survival story.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
First: Pennsylvania progressives are putting their energy into social change at the local level, “where all the real stuff happens.”
Then: A beloved Jersey band that got to know the impact of coronavirus firsthand.
And: Last night, the Flyers game was live and in color to welcome around 3,000 fans.
— Ashley Hoffman (@_ashleyhoffman, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
Welcome to Pennsylvania, where the era-defining progressive forces ignited by Trump’s 2016 victory are keeping the political energy high without him. Their focus? Change in their own local communities.
In Lehigh Valley, organizers have actively looked to reform police funding while Philly’s activists behind toppling establishment Democrats have advocated to put low-income renters before the big developers. In Southwestern Pennsylvania, advocates are designing workshops to engage voters who believe conspiracy theories such as Trump’s false claim that the election was stolen that still roars across the internet.
For the dozen activists all over Pennsylvania reporter Andrew Seidman spoke with, read the whole story on what that means for them.
For the Juliano Brothers, a Jersey bar band with a considerable following, the threat of coronavirus hit home.
As the fall 2020 surge was about to peak, the pandemic could have done in the whole band, affecting the lead guitarist particularly severely. The musicians feared they might lose Matt Juliano, a “teddy bear of a Jersey Shore lead guitarist.” Fans even started sending priests to his hospital.
For years, the group transported people back to some of their fondest memories at a Sea Isle bar that was recently torn down. And while Matt was staying in touch on social media from his hospital bed, the iconic hangout was being demolished. But Juliano drew comfort in the support of the fans, and the band has survived. When he came home from the hospital, he said: “I fought for all of youse.”
Read their whole story from reporter Amy S. Rosenberg.
Where can you get a vaccine in the Philly area if you’re eligible? Use our lookup tool and find out.
Here’s how you can prepare for your COVID-19 vaccine appointment when you get one.
Here are the updated coronavirus case numbers, as COVID-19 spreads in the region.
This is how to safely visit your grandparents once they’re vaccinated.
What you need to know today
We captured what it was like at the Flyers game, where euphoric fans were masked unless eating or drinking.
The Pa. Health Secretary says that the suburbs weren’t under-supplied with COVID-19 vaccine, and have no plans to increase the share for suburbs.
The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium got a $25,000 donation from Vice President Kamala Harris’ sorority on a challenging day when it ran out of doses for a clinic.
RNA made perfect sense to use in a COVID-19 vaccine, but what about using it to treat cancer and rare childhood diseases? This development from a group of Philly scientists is a big deal.
This is the cost of Philly’s traffic choke points for both consumers and truckers.
Through your eyes | #OurPhilly
This one just leaves a lovely impression. Thanks for sharing, @aimeebsiegl.
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
🥘 Take a big trip “around the world” with Craig LaBan’s takeout dish picks from Northeast Philly.
🎾+ 🏓 +🏸 = Pickleball is exploding in Philly. What — in the pickle sports balls — is it? It’s a hybrid of badminton, Ping-Pong and tennis.
💗 Meet one of Philly’s hunger fighters. He’s a minister who previously used drugs.
🏫 How to make school inclusive for everyone? Start by seeing students for who they are.
Opinions
“What some might call a distraction, I call the dawning of yet another double standard for women. Just add it to the ever-growing list: Speaking while female.” — columnist Helen Ubiñas writes that “tweeting while female” is another example of standards facing women that are rarely applied to men.
Professor Tran Huynh issues a call for help for more humane protections of technicians and the nail salons where they work.
It’s been a year of changed minds. Hear four writers on how they reshaped their beliefs on work, activism, and race.
What we’re reading
Get a recap of the highlights of Oprah’s interview with Meghan Markle from the New York Times.
Stop doom-scrolling and get yourself to Biddy Bee’s hilarious hijinks-filled drag show. The live-streamed musical extravaganza raises funds for social justice causes, and the wig that looks like electric blue Fruit Roll-Ups alone is worth seeing more of.
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