School board nominees named, Phillies co-owner settles $22M dispute, Supreme Court declines DACA case | Morning Newsletter
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Good morning, Philadelphia. It's going to be a sunny day, so don't forget the sunglasses. The nominees for Philly's new school board have been released, a new study has an idea for cleaning up gun violence in Philadelphia, and a Phillies co-owner is settling an expensive family feud. Let's jump right in.
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— Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)
» READ MORE: Meet the Philly school board’s 27 nominees
Drum roll, please: The school board nominating panel revealed the names of 27 people Mayor Kenney will consider to run the School District of Philadelphia yesterday.
The nominees have a range of experiences, from activists to businesspeople, from government veterans to nonprofit founders. Two of them are current School Reform Commission members.
Kenney will choose nine of the nominees for the board by the end of March. Then, the new school board will start running the show when the SRC dissolves June 30.
» READ MORE: Phillies co-owner will pay $22 million in family dispute
Multi-billionaire Phillies co-owner John Middleton has moved to settle a dispute over his family's cigar fortune. Yesterday he agreed to pay his sister $22 million, but only after she agreed to drop accusations she'd been shortchanged in the sale of the family's cigar company.
Middleton was facing demands of more than $1 billion if the case had gone against him. After the hearing, he said in a statement he'll now focus on philanthropy and "returning the Phillies to the glory years."
The Phillies lost to the Yankees in last night's spring training match-up; they play the Tigers today.
» READ MORE: Study finds cleaning up vacant lots could reduce gun violence
In the midst of a raging national conversation on reducing gun violence, restrictions on research funding and the scope of the problem itself have made it hard to determine what measures really work.
Enter a new Philadelphia study that supports a method few could find fault with: cleaning up vacant lots. Researchers have found that planting, mowing, and maintaining vacant lots around the city led to a reduction in gun assaults in the area.
The study was clear that such interventions wouldn't prevent mass shootings, but could reduce urban gun violence that accounts for the bulk of U.S. homicides.
What you need to know today
The Supreme Court rejected an unusual Trump administration plea to intervene in a case affecting DACA recipients Monday, meaning the "Dreamers" the program protects can continue to apply for renewals.
Bill Cosby's daughter Ensa Cosby, 44, has died, a family spokesman confirmed Monday.
In case you needed a reminder not to park in a bus zone, SEPTA is considering using bus cameras to catch law breakers so the PPA can issue tickets.
Students at Cherry Hill High School East staged a protest yesterday in support of a teacher who was suspended after speaking out against security concerns following the Parkland, Fla. shooting.
A Pennsylvania school will be moving its elementary students for the day tomorrow as a nearby church holds a ceremony to bless couples carrying AR-15 rifles.
Nina Ahmad, a former aide to Mayor Jim Kenney who had been campaigning for a Philadelphia congressional seat, is jumping into the crowded race for lieutenant governor instead.
Somebody bought three billboards in Cleveland just to tell LeBron James he should join the Sixers once he's a free agent. Sometimes you just have to shoot your shot, I guess.
An infestation of an invasive East Asian tick species never before known to be present on U.S. soil has been found in New Jersey. It could pose a threat to livestock.
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
Gayle Isa, the leader of the Asian Arts Initiative since its beginnings at the Painted Bride Art Center 25 years ago, is stepping down.
Monochromatic ensembles have long been favored across black American fashion, but did you know the look stems from a history of resistance and statement-making? (Learn more about the black aesthetic in Philadelphia tonight with a free panel hosted by reporter Cassie Owens.)
Hinge, a Philly-based podcast in which a pastor and an atheist discuss faith and doubt (think NPR's Invisibilia but about theology), is climbing the charts. Here's how it all came to be.
Aaron Carter — yes, younger brother of Backstreet Boy Nick, that Aaron Carter — is in town for a show at Voltage Lounge tonight. He says his new EDM-tinged album comes straight from the heart.
The Camden Pop-Up Library is bringing the joy of reading to the homeless and others in need in downtown Camden. And it's all thanks to Oaklyn resident Tom Martin.
Though their numbers have slowly risen, there are just 140 black farm operators across Pennsylvania's 59,167 farms — and they represent centuries-long farming traditions.
What should the Eagles do about Vinny Curry? Our beat reporters are previewing the Eagles' offseason one position at a time. Next stop: the defensive line. (The NFL Scouting Combine opens today, too. Here's a look at the lineup.)
The Flyers picked up a veteran defenseman but lost their seventh defenseman on a waiver claim yesterday ahead of the NHL trade deadline. After their sixth straight victory last night, the Flyers are in first place in their division.
Opinions
Scott Wagner, a Republican state senator from the 28th district and Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate, writes that the state Supreme Court's congressional map advances a radical liberal agenda.
Dena Ferrara Driscoll, family biking advocate and co-chair of urbanist PAC 5th Square, calls on Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell to rescind a recently introduced bike lane bill that will make it harder to install street safety measures throughout the city.
What we’re reading
Have you heard spring peepers, the nocturnal frogs whose call announces the beginning of spring, already? WHYY explains why they're calling for an early end to winter.
In light of Penn rescinding honorary degrees from Bill Cosby and Steve Wynn, The Daily Pennsylvanian took a closer look at who's received the honor over the years. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they found a gender gap.
Over at Temple University, the Temple News reports that women are bringing a new perspective to the school's ROTC program. Turns out, they report the program has a higher percentage of women than the Army.
It looks like the budding cryptocurrency industry is following the lead of the tech world at large in at least one aspect: pervasive gender disparities. The New York Times reports on "blockchain bros."
This New York Magazine article titled "Worst Roomate Ever" could not be more aptly named. You need to read it to believe it.
Your Daily Dose of | Rivalry
Dan and Bethann Burke are basketball coaches at rival local colleges. They're also married. Nothing like a bit of friendly competition, right?