đ„Ÿ Take a hike | Morning Newsletter
And 100 days in Pennsylvania.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Itâs Wednesday, Philly, and soon, itâs gonna be May.
With this weekâs spate of warm weather â including todayâs sun and high temps near 78 â itâs also a great time to plan outdoor adventures. Find your perfect hiking trail near Philly with our quiz.
And at the start of his second presidency, Donald Trumpâs policies have caused âchaosâ for some and uncertainty for many. Read on for a breakdown of how Trumpâs first 100 days unfolded in Pennsylvania.
â Julie Zeglen ([email protected])
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The southeast region of Pennsylvania â a state named for its woodsy amenities â is flush with good hiking spots across hundreds of miles of trails.
đ„Ÿ Need a low-effort, paved path? Head out from Center City to the Schuylkill River Trail (just watch out for weaving skateboarders on the Schuylkill Banks boardwalk).
đČ Getting there via public transportation? Thereâs a trail for that â say, Bartramâs Mile Trail in Southwest Philadelphia or Hartwell Run at Wissahickon Valley Park.
đȘš Looking for something rigorous and want to bring your (leashed) dog? The Mount Tammany Red Dot Trail at the Delaware Water Gap might be a good fit, if you have time for the drive.
Take the quiz to find your perfect Philly hike.
The impact of President Trumpâs federal policy overhaul has been felt across the Keystone State in major and myriad ways.
Federal workers find themselves needing to restart their careers after sudden job eliminations. Immigrants, especially those who are undocumented, struggle to find a sense of security amid a looming threat of deportation. Small business owners from farmers to skincare purveyors contend with the confusion of global tariffs and lost funding. And schools and parents navigate a crackdown on transgender rights and programs aimed at uplifting marginalized communities.
Politics reporter Julia Terruso explains how Trumpâs first 100 days impacted Pennsylvania.
Further reading: See four charts that explain that impact, from rising unemployment claims for federal workers to fewer foreign visitors seen at PHL.
In other federal policy news: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is joining a coalition of state attorneys general to sue the Trump administration over its cuts to the federal community service program AmeriCorps. Comcast and Aramark have removed content from their websites related to diversity initiatives amid the White Houseâs crackdown on DEI. Plus, hereâs what to know about the executive order on sanctuary cities that could target Philadelphia.
What you should know today
A criminal justice organizer for the Pennsylvania Working Families Party has been charged with the 2024 killing of a 30-year-old woman in North Philadelphia.
Police shot and killed a man who they said led officers on a high-speed pursuit through the city Monday.
Drug overdose deaths decreased by 7% in 2023 in the city, but the death toll was still the second-highest ever recorded, per new figures from health officials. Racial disparities persist, too.
A Chester charter school where 20 workers have been charged in relation to abuse of children was negligent, according to a lawsuit. The school says itâs a victim, too.
Six former Cherry Hill students are accusing the school district of failing to protect them from a sixth-grade teacher who allegedly sexually abused them more than four decades ago.
A Philly judge could face discipline over his promotion of his wifeâs cheesesteak shop.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker will not support increasing the school districtâs share of city property tax collections in the next budget cycle, despite calls to do so from some City Council members. And as the Camden school district faces a $91 million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 school year, job cuts and layoffs are expected.
What if Philly could set its own minimum wage? Public officials and union leaders rallied outside City Hall on Tuesday to advocate for an end to the state rule that forbids it.
New Jersey-based drug giant Merck is spending $1 billion to build a new factory that brings production of its best-selling cancer drug to Delaware.
đ§ Trivia time
Rejoice, lovers of old-school kitsch: Chef Joey Baldino will revive the recently shuttered legendary Bomb Bomb BBQ Grill & Italian Restaurant. Which other South Philly restaurant does he own?
A) Villa di Roma
B) Palizzi Social Club
C) Mawn
D) Angeloâs Pizzeria
Think you know? Check your answer.
What (and who, and where) weâre...
đ Noting: Malcolm Jenkinsâ response to Jalen Hurts skipping the Eaglesâ White House visit.
đ€ Congratulating: Schoolly D and the other Philly Music Walk of Fame inductees â as well as Bob Geldof, to be honored for his work organizing Live Aid and Live 8 in Philly.
đïž Shopping: Big Lots, now that the chain is reopening 13 stores in Pennsylvania.
⟠Learning: How to play Sluggball, a.k.a. baseballâs version of Topgolf, ahead of its May debut.
đž Considering: How security deposits fit into the case for reforming Philadelphiaâs rental laws.
𧩠Unscramble the anagram
Hint: The Pennsylvania school created by the merger of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities
CALM HOMETOWN
Email us if you know the answer. Weâll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Kalen Flynn, who solved Tuesdayâs anagram: Mural Arts. A new tool will help the nonprofit protect and preserve Phillyâs murals from demolition or development: a preservation easement.
Photo of the day
đ€§ One last sneeze-inducing thing: With spring blooms comes peak pollen season in Philly. Resident weather expert Tony Wood explains whatâs behind the âgreen snowâ blanketing your car and tickling your sinuses.
Wishing you an outdoorsy day, even with all that pollen. And hey, while youâre out there, feel free to sneak a moment of screen time to sign up for The Inquirerâs Outdoorsy newsletter, which returns for the season soon. Subscribe for free here.
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