The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
It’s New Year’s Eve, Philly, and a very chilly one. Bundle up if you’re heading to the Mummers Parade or Two Street tomorrow.
Before 2026 begins, take one more look back on 2025. Read on for a year-end review of federal workforce changes’ local impact, wins for Philadelphia scientists, 125-plus noteworthy restaurant openings, and big-money verdicts from city juries.
And if you have a Christmas tree to recycle, learn where to turn it into goat food or wood chips for playgrounds.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
P.S. This newsletter is taking some time off for the holiday. Look for its return to your inbox on Saturday.
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The Philly area weathered federal changes, captured worldwide attention, and showed off its strengths in 2025. Here’s how, through some of the year’s biggest news stories.
Federal workforce turmoil: Sweeping changes made by President Donald Trump’s administration led to layoffs, resignations, and early retirements, as well as stripped union rights and canceled contracts. After the upheaval inspired Pennsylvania leaders to streamline the hiring process for former federal employees, hundreds applied to state government jobs, and over 100 were hired as of June.
Science wins: Amid federal research cuts and leadership shake-ups, local scientists notched successes via prizes and breakthroughs. Among them, Delaware County’s KJ Muldoon — known as “Baby KJ” — was successfully treated with personalized gene-editing therapy by doctors at Children‘s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, leading to global recognition.
Beyond Michelin: The region saw more than 125 new restaurants open in the last 12 months. They range from Stephen Starr’s supersized Borromini, to Michelin star winners’ comfort food concept, to lauded cafés and little-treat shops. Plus, food reporter Kiki Aranita recapped the Philly food trends she saw this year — including that the limited-edition burger became its own star.
And big verdicts: Philadelphia juries are famous for handing out large verdicts. This year, they awarded $3 billion less in judgments compared to 2024 — but 2025’s total still hit nearly $120 million, including a $35 million medical malpractice verdict against Penn and Main Line Health.
Unless you’re a leave-the-Christmas-decorations-up-until-Valentine’s-Day type, you might decide this is the week to get rid of the dying pine tree in your living room.
Yes, you can ditch it on the curb for garbage pickup. But you can also recycle it to benefit community programs. For instance:
🌲 The Philly Goat Project will feed your holiday leftovers to its furry friends during — bonus! — a meet-and-greet event.
🌲 Ocean County will turn your tree into wood chips to be used for landscaping projects at local park facilities.
See the full guide to Philly-area tree recycling.
What you should know today
More details are emerging about the harrowing moments after two helicopters crashed in Atlantic County this weekend, including from a neighbor who held a dying pilot’s hand while rescuers raced to the site.
Philadelphia’s new U.S. attorney, David Metcalf, has largely avoided the chaos swirling around other parts of Trump’s Justice Department. He spoke to The Inquirer about his goals.
Former U.S. Rep. Richard “Dick” Schulze, a Republican who represented the Philly suburbs, died last week at age 96. He played a key role in making Valley Forge a national historical park.
Police are looking for the driver who fatally struck a 49-year-old man riding an e-bike early Monday in Burlington County and then fled the scene.
Joe Khan will become Bucks County’s first Democratic district attorney when he takes office in January. Here’s what he plans to get done.
Atlantic City Expressway will be cashless as of Sunday. Drivers without E-ZPass will pay double.
The typical luxury homes in this region sell faster than in most other markets, according to a new analysis.
Quote of the day
But Rex is missing no longer. The escape of the 3-foot, gray-haired marsupial from Ron Layden’s farm sparked a search since Monday and captured the imagination of those in Gloucester County’s Monroe Township. It came to a happy ending Tuesday night with Rex indeed being found in the Walmart parking lot.
🧠 Trivia time
As of Thursday, New Jersey’s new minimum wage will be more than double that of Pennsylvania’s — $15.92 an hour compared to $7.25. When did Pennsylvania’s minimum wage last increase?
A) 1980
B) 1995
C) 2009
D) 2016
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re ...
🧥 Coveting: The season’s hottest jacket, inspired by Kalaya’s Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon — and her dogs.
⚾ Reviewing: The worst sports decisions of 2025, including Orion Kerkering’s throw home.
🌱 Planting: These seeds celebrating 250 years of American history.
🥔 Welcoming: Baked potatoes’ big culinary moment.
⚕️ Considering: Registering as an organ donor.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood
UNMAN YAK
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Sue Koosha, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Nemours. The Institute for Maternal Fetal Health at the Wilmington children’s hospital is set to open in early 2026.
Photo of the day
Wishing you a New Year’s Eve as fabulous as Millie’s outfit. See you in 2026.
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