⚽ Was the World Cup a win for Philly? | Morning Newsletter
And, fallout from a Pride hearing.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Good morning, Philly. After what seemed like an endless barrage of flood warnings, we’re back to a heat advisory.
Today, we start with some early signs of the economic impact of the World Cup on Philadelphia. Also, moving in the city is a stressful puzzle, so we followed a few Philly pros who make it look easy, and to teach us a few tricks of the trade.
Plus, City Council members grilled the police commissioner over officers’ Pride response as LGBTQ+ advocates demanded accountability, and more news of the day.
— Tommy Rowan (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Prior to the kickoff of the World Cup, the organizers of the city’s events projected the soccer tournament would bring $770 million to Pennsylvania in gross revenue.
The cleat-kicked dirt is still settling, and conclusions will continue to emerge as more data comes to light.
But here is what we know so far:
⚽ Hotels and short-term rentals made more money.
⚽ SEPTA, PHL, and rideshare handled more travelers.
⚽ Philly’s fan festival, and bars near it, were poppin’ off.
Read our full report here.
For most homeowners and renters, moves are stressful — once ranked more stressful than getting a divorce.
But for the city’s professional movers, it’s just another day at work. Between parking troubles on tight South Philly streets and narrow doorways in historical trinity homes, these crews encounter and overcome Philly-specific challenges daily.
Reporter Olivia Prusky looked at how Philly movers maneuvered complicated or unwieldy items out — and into — small, old, or weirdly-shaped Philly homes, and learned a few expert tips.
Read her full, delightful report.
What you should know today
Several members of Philadelphia City Council and a bevy of LGBTQ+ community leaders on Wednesday sharply criticized Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, who testified about the department’s response to Pride festivities in the city’s Gayborhood in June and largely defended the force’s crowd-control tactics that had drawn outrage.
A Northeast Philly man disappeared in 2014 and months later his body was found in the Schuylkill with bullet wounds. A woman was just arrested.
Attorneys for Bucks County Democrat Bob Harvie filed a defamation lawsuit against a political action committee and a consultant supporting his opponent, Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, in a high-stakes congressional contest.
Right as work was set to begin on the Collings Avenue Bridge, Camden County announced Wednesday that the $2.5 million repair project is postponed until further notice.
Hackers breached two local New Jersey water systems as part of a wider cyberattack across several states. Officials say drinking water remained safe.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, in perhaps the most in-depth and toughest interview he has faced in recent memory, defended his unwavering support for Israel and his harsh criticisms of fellow Democrats when pressed by Jon Stewart in a podcast episode.
A new $10 million fund is a “first step” toward recovery for Pennsylvania farmers after a disastrous April freeze.
Quote of the day
Christopher Nolan’s interpretation of The Odyssey is visually arresting, but not when it comes to dining. Our food reporter, who is also a classics scholar, tells us how to watch the movie and dine like a hero.
🧠 Trivia time
The school year started Wednesday for 500-plus new Philadelphia School District teachers and counselors. When do the district’s 113,000 students return to the classroom?
A) Aug. 31
B) Sept. 8
C) Aug. 24
D) Not soon enough.
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🍕 Curious about. Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy stopped into at least five Philly-area pizzerias this week for much-coveted “one bite” ratings. One spot nabbed an 8.3.
🙏 Remembering. Avid St. Joseph’s basketball fan Chris DiJulia was known for his wit, loyalty, and perseverance — not for his wheelchair. His death has been emotional for the greater St. Joe’s community who admired his battle with cerebral palsy.
🎬 Following. The HBO crime thriller Task has added new cast members who will join stars Mark Ruffalo and Mahershala Ali for its second season, which centers on two opposing dads in Philadelphia and its collar counties.
🏀 Noddying along to. Fans are all asking the same question after the 76ers signed prized free agent LeBron James: Does this make the Sixers favorites to win the NBA championship? So we asked our experts.
🍽️ Anticipating. Philadelphia’s late-summer restaurant openings range from Italian aperitivo culture and contemporary Mexican fare to family recipes, comfort food, and a returning neighborhood sports bar.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said this New Jersey shop has the best Philly cheesesteak.
CAT PEAKEDNESS YOLKS
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Page Allinson, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Aldar Bistro. The longtime Bala Cynwyd restaurant is closing after more than three decades, and Center City Italian restaurant veterans are moving in.
Photo of the day
The Eagles held the sixth practice of their 2026 training camp on Wednesday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. As you can see, they’re pulling out all the stops this year — no matter how goofy they may seem.
👋 Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. Paola Pérez has you covered tomorrow.
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