Abington school board apologizes, Facebook faces Congress, Cosby accuser testifies | Morning Newsletter
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Good morning, Philadelphia. Last night, the Abington School District held a school board meeting full of angry parents and alumni — and apologies from the board. The drama stems from a controversial gift the district took from Wall Street billionaire Stephen Schwarzman and the strings that may be attached. The Cosby retrial continued Tuesday, with the first of six accusers set to take the stand telling her story, one of blame and abuse. Stay tuned for continued trial coverage right here each morning. Meek Mill has released a new music video, too, and it's got a special twist. Finally, it seems like our never-ending winter may soon be over, as it will feel like summer by Friday. Whether that's good or bad is up to you.
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— Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)
» READ MORE: Apologies and anger at Abington school board meeting
Alumni, parents and residents packed a school board meeting for the Abington School District Tuesday night to discuss its controversial agreement with Wall Street billionaire Stephen Schwarzman.
The board previously had agreed to rename the school after Schwarzman, among other undisclosed terms, in exchange for a $25 million gift. Following public backlash, the board has abandoned the renaming and insists their vote on a new deal will be transparent and consider public comment.
But attendees at the meeting were left wondering about details of the old deal and the nonprofit foundation created last year to receive the gift. Those details will be posted online today.
» READ MORE: Cosby accuser testifies she blamed herself for alleged assault during Reno acting lesson
Tuesday was the second day of Bill Cosby's retrial on sexual assault allegations, and the first of six women expected to testify that they were drugged and attacked by the entertainer took the stand.
She said she initially blamed herself for the encounter with Cosby in 1984, during which she said she was sexually abused.
Cosby's lawyer Tom Mesereau made his opening statements yesterday, painting the case's central accuser, Andrea Constand, as a "con artist" who only wanted money, referring to the $3.4 million settlement Cosby paid her in 2005.
» READ MORE: Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg in the hot seat
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before senators from both parties Tuesday to answer questions on the company's data security and Russian meddling.
But for many, the senators' softball questions didn't get to the heart of issues with Facebook's social media dominance.
As one software CEO wrote in testimony provided to Congress, Facebook will have to fix its advertising problems, the core of its business model, before it can be trusted.
What you need to know today
The battle brewing over Penn professor Amy Wax has escalated. A major donor has stepped down from two board positions to protest Wax's removal from some teaching duties.
The Flyers' journey to the Stanley Cup begins tonight with a game against the two-time defending Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Which recalls the question, is Pittsburgh Pennsylvania's pro sports capital?
The FBI raid on the office and home of Michael Cohen, President Trump's personal lawyer, on Monday was approved by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, a Philly native. Here's everything you need to know about the raid.
The Phillies hit .500 with last night's win over the Reds at Citizens Bank Park and the Sixers logged their 15th straight win over the Hawks — a franchise record.
Parents of a Penn suicide victim are suing the university, saying campus professionals failed to respond to their daughter's multiple cries for help.
If you see smoke coming from Valley Forge today, don't worry. Parts of it are burning down on purpose.
Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly
We want to see what our community looks like through your eyes. Show us the park that your family walks through every weekend with the dog, the block party in your neighborhood or the historic stretch you see every morning on your commute to work.
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
Have you met the Philly Green Man? (Hint: you'd definitely know if you have.) The expert scrapper is the master of turning your trash into treasure and he's helping save lives in Haiti and Africa with discarded shoes.
You've heard of paint-and-wine nights, but a new Philly businesses shows pairing anything DIY with alcohol — like making candles with a drink in hand — is a recipe for success.
If you've ever wanted to vacation like a Jackass, here's your chance: Bam Margera is sprucing up his home to become an Airbnb spot.
Meek Mill has released a new music video (yes, while still in prison) for his song "1942 Flows," and it features the Philly protests in his name.
Mikal Bridges, the Villanova forward who's been part of two national championship wins with the Wildcats, is passing up a final year with the team for a shot at the NBA draft.
Art lovers may be interested in a new condo building coming to the Parkway — though it may jeopardize some plans for the Rail Park.
Opinions
Not impeaching President Trump and normalizing his behavior may be a greater risk than normalizing impeachment, writes columnist Will Bunch.
Programs for kids during out-of-school hours are critical to their success, so the city must address that need write Michael DiBerardinis, Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia, and Dr. William Hite, Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia.
What we’re reading
After City Councilwoman Cindy Bass introduced a new bill requiring developers seeking a change in zoning to alert their neighbors, PlanPhilly wonders if her hypothesis — more information means safer communities — holds up.
Philadelphia Magazine asked a few local businesspeople what kind of smart home gadgets they use and it turns out they're very well connected. Business is all about networking, right?
Turn up the volume: The Temple News' Music Issue features two nice profiles on athletes making music on campus. The first features a former football player now DJing during the Owls' practice and the second is all about a football senior who spends his free time on a budding rap career.
CityLab has taken a look at the mayors of America's largest cities and found a perhaps unsurprising trend: they're mostly white men. Their latest examines how it happened and where it's changing.
Fans of The Simpsons may have noticed a fourth-wall-breaking scene in this week's episode responding to criticisms of its character Apu. Entertainment Weekly explains the conversation and how, for many, the response missed the mark.
Your Daily Dose of | Antiques
Anastacia's Antiques in Bella Vista doesn't sell just any old chairs and tables. You're more likely to find stuffed sloths and human teeth.