The Morning Newsletter
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Rise and shine, Philly.
In todayâs main read, meet âSiddiq,â North Phillyâs favorite barber on wheels.
And Uber has a new pitch for City Council as it looks for an exit ramp away from an unpopular rideshare tax proposal.
Scroll along for these stories and more.
â Paola PĂ©rez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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One of North Phillyâs favorite barbershops is not exactly a barbershop.
Itâs William Sandersâ box truck, Nice Cutz, offering clean cuts in an intimate space.
Sanders, who goes by Siddiq, learned to cut hair when he was about 15 years old in Frankford. He started the truck business around the pandemic. Now, heâs the go-to guy for customers who prefer a private chair.
Most days, you can find him parked at Broad and York, but he has also taken his truck to community events and places where it can be hard to get a haircut, like rehab facilities and nursing homes.
Over time, Sanders has made his mark on the community. He makes house calls, and inspires some to daydream about business opportunities like his.
Notable quote: âYou couldnât be out here with a better person,â said Cleo Randall, who has known Sanders since childhood. âHeâs always supporting the neighborhood, serving the neighborhood, taking care of people who donât have money. All of the above.â
Hop aboard with Inquirer reporter Abigail Covington for more of Sandersâ story.
Philadelphiaâs City Council is looking for an alternative to Mayor Cherelle L. Parkerâs proposed $1-per-ride tax on rideshare services, and Uber has reportedly obliged them.
The company has floated a compromise plan that would instead increase Philadelphiaâs existing rideshare tax, which currently stands at 1.4%, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations.
đ In theory, Uberâs plan would have less impact on consumers. However, even doubling the existing tax would produce less revenue than Parkerâs proposed plan. This matters because her proposal has been promoted as a lifeline to help fund city schools.
đ Another complicating factor: The plan would require approval from the state, not City Council. It appears to have some traction in both City Hall and Harrisburg.
City Hall reporter Anna Orso breaks down the politics and money at play.
What you should know today
SEPTAâs beloved cream-and-green antique trolleys will be back in service Monday on Route 15.
Police temporarily shut down King of Prussia Mall on Saturday to disperse large crowds that flocked there for the release of a watch that generated a national frenzy.
A new bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean of Montgomery County would make assaulting a healthcare worker a federal crime.
As hundreds of new cases appear, Pennsylvania has begun tracking alpha-gal syndrome, the red meat allergy caused by a tick bite.
The Pennsylvania State Police is creating a new unit to investigate threats against elected officials after a communication failure surrounding violent threats against Pennsylvania legislators.
A Philadelphia church where a notorious priest served is now the site of a memorial installation to honor victims of clergy sex abuse.
A Chesco township will vote to decommission an aging and costly wastewater treatment plant.
Philly arts legend Peter Paone has died at 89. He was a pillar of the Philadelphia arts scene whose work appeared in some of the worldâs most prestigious museums.
đ€ Now Iâm passing the mic to Tommy Rowan for a look back at the man who attacked the Liberty Bell with a 4-pound sledgehammer.
On April 6, 2001, a dreadlock-bearded Mitch Guilliatt raised a hammer to an American icon.
Just over a year later, Guilliatt told an Inquirer reporter that he âreally didnât know what would happenâ when he struck the broken bell.
But he did tell the newspaper why he lifted the hammer. Read on for the full story.
âPop quiz
Noah and Charlotte were the most popular baby names in Pennsylvania in 2025.
What were New Jerseyâs top names?
A) James and Sophia
B) Liam and Emma
C) Noah and Mia
D) Lucas and Olivia
Think you know? Check your answer.
What weâre ...
đ Visiting: Ellen Yinâs favorite place for Japanese stationery.
đ Feasting on: A tuna dish that looks like a ruby-toned pane of stained glass.
đ Ready for: Summer concerts and long soaks in Saratoga Springs.
đœïž Stunned by: A toxic dinner setting at the Fabric Workshop.
𧩠Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Former Phillies legend
HARD NORWAY
Email us if you know the answer. Weâll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Peter DiMaio, who correctly guessed Saturdayâs answer: Furniture Bank. The essential resource for Philadelphiaâs homeless and low-income residents plans to close at the end of June.
đïž One more story to go: Patrick Shanahan, a retired schoolteacher, has picked up three tons of littered cans across Philadelphia. This longtime âtrasherciseâ has helped him improve his mental and physical health, and the city. âI love Philly. This could be a beautiful city if we just stop trashing it,â he said.
đ¶ Todayâs track goes like this: âI know something is coming my way.â Iâve also been listening to my Spotify 20 playlist. It turns out my most-streamed song was âColder & Closerâ by TOPS. What was yours?
đđœ Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. Take care.
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