The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Saturday is here. We’re warming up again, and there’s a chance of rain in the afternoon.
Today, I’m talking about juneberry season in Philadelphia.
But first, let’s get into why Mayor Cherelle L. Parker is optimistic Philly will avert a major city worker strike next week, the regional impact of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship, and why parking is about to get pricier in Center City.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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What you should know today
Friday’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court means that while some children born to immigrant parents in Pennsylvania could lose birthright citizenship, others in similar circumstances in New Jersey would still have it. Here’s what happens now.
Two people have been charged with murder for setting a fire at a Strawberry Mansion home that killed a pregnant mother and two of her children.
A Philadelphia man who police say shot and killed a 55-year-old man inside a 7-Eleven after the two got into an argument has been charged with murder.
The largest union representing Philadelphia’s municipal employees says it and the city are far apart on salary offers, but Mayor Cherelle L. Parker is optimistic a deal will be done.
Center City parking rates will go up for the first time in about 10 years. Starting July 1, the hourly rate will increase from $3 to $4 in the core downtown area.
A new lawsuit blames a gun seller for facilitating a July 2023 mass shooting that left five people dead in Kingsessing. The parents of one victim say the sale of rifle parts allowed the shooting suspect to evade a background check.
A congressional committee probing colleges’ responses to antisemitism is demanding that Haverford College explain its handling of incidents on campus.
Upper Darby mainstay Pica’s Restaurant will be open till the fall. The family-owned establishment previously announced plans to close its West Chester Pike location and relocate elsewhere in Delaware County.
Philadelphia is getting 15 more extended-day, extended-year schools. The city’s school board is also moving to nonrenew two struggling charter schools, the first step on a path to possible closure of both.
Some famous Philly boxers are buried in unmarked graves. A boxing historian is on a mission to change that.
It all started with a Facebook post. I saw a neighbor share their incredible haul of mulberries from a single tree nearby. I had no idea they were ripe and readily available for picking. Intrigued, I started looking up pictures of mulberry trees, and I learned that these same trees could also drop another juicy fruit: juneberries (not to be confused with juniper berries).
In 2019, my colleague Mike Newall wrote about the juneberry, a cross between a cherry and a blueberry with a nutty finish, and “Philly’s sweetest secret.” As its name suggests, June is its prime time, though they were once called shadberries, and are also known as serviceberries. The Philadelphia Orchard Project is one of several organizations that helps grow and maintain dozens of orchards, and the city also plants juneberry bushes.
Part of what makes juneberries special is the way they almost hide in plain sight, waiting in the shrubs lining city sidewalks. Learning about them made me wonder how many times I might have passed right by, not realizing I could pluck and enjoy a seasonal favorite. Then again, my survival instincts prevent me from impulsively grabbing — let alone eating — anything without being entirely sure it won’t poison me first. There’s also the importance of good foraging etiquette.
In tune with the astronomical clock, juneberries mark the start of summer solstice. For me, I knew the season truly arrived when I finally could get my hands on some rainier cherries, but now I have another delicacy to look forward to every year.
With major service reductions looming for SEPTA, the leaders of the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Comcast are urging legislators to act now to fund the transit system.
In a column for The Inquirer, J. Larry Jameson, Madeline Bell, and Brian L. Roberts say cuts will disrupt access to vital healthcare services and have other ripple effects across the state.
“As a major employer and provider for the region, mass transit is a lifeline for our most vulnerable populations,” they write. “Depriving SEPTA and other mass transit agencies of the resources they need to stave off disastrous cuts will undoubtedly lead to negative economic impacts that reverberate throughout the commonwealth.”
Get the leaders’ take on why investing in public transportation is investing in the health, education, and prosperity of our communities.
🧠Trivia time
Jeff Cole is retiring from his muckraking gig as an investigative reporter for Fox 29.
How long was Cole with the station?
A) 32 years
B) 40 years
C) 30 years
D) 25 years
Think you know? Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: The Kennett Symphony’s new name
ANDY BEVERLY INLAW
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Betty Potash who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Passyunk. After 12 years on East Passyunk Avenue, the acclaimed Laurel plans to move to Center City. And Love & Honey Fried Chicken is taking over the Passyunk spot formerly occupied by Black N Brew.
VinĂcius JĂşnior led Real Madrid to a 3-0 rout of Red Bull Salzburg before 64,000 fans at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday. See staff photographer David Mailatetti’s photos from the pitch.
Saturday’s matchup will feature a team that wears the Eagles’ colors, and players on both sides who used to play in MLS.
Plus: Are Manchester City fans anything like Philly sports fans? Hear what they told us at the Linc.
Somewhere on the internet in Philly
People are virtually checking out the secret British pub inside a Delco lawyer’s office. Among the comments: This is “Delco AF” and “This guy’s a lawyer and his surname’s Barrist?” Cheers, mate.
Can you name the planets of our solar system in order? Is Pluto a planet? The Birds had a friendly debate over these cosmic questions.
And a wild Snorlax was spotted at 19th and Snyder, sleeping soundly near a tree that was downed in the recent vicious storms. It’s nearly impossible to wake or move this Pokémon. A top reply: “Streets Department used Snore. It’s not very effective.”
👋🏽 Have a good day, OK? See you tomorrow.
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