đ„ Peep this | Morning Newsletter
And arson suspect called police.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Morning, Philly. Some gusts are expected again today, along with sun and higher temps. Hereâs hoping these winds will be less destructive.
All Peeps come from one place: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Below, take a peep inside the Lehigh Valley factory where the countryâs most beloved Easter candy is made.
And the man accused of trying to kill Gov. Josh Shapiro called 911 shortly after a fire was set to the governorâs mansion in Harrisburg, confessing and calling him a âmonster,â a search warrant reveals.
Plus, getting a green card can feel like navigating a maze. Hereâs a look at how complex the journey can be in Philadelphia.
â Julie Zeglen ([email protected])
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Microwaved or stale. Nibbled or popped in the mouth whole. Yellow, lavender, or green. Bunnies or chicks.
đ€ However they prefer to consume the pastel-colored marshmallow candies, for sugar fiends across the country (plus Canada and Japan), spring is Peeps season.
đ° About 2 billion Peeps are produced each year at Just Born Quality Confections in Bethlehem, 60 miles north of Philadelphia. The 102-year-old company also makes Mike and Ikes, Hot Tamales, and Goldenbergâs Peanut Chews, but itâs the Peeps that draw visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the sugar-coated magic that is the production process.
đŹ So, how do the perfectly plump confections get made? And how did the candy evolve over nearly a century to become the beloved pop-culture icon it is today?
Ahead of Easter, food reporter Jenn Ladd goes inside the Lehigh Valley hub for answers.
Plus: Watch The Inquirerâs video tour of the Peeps factory.
New information is emerging about the fire set inside the Pennsylvania governorâs residence early Sunday while Gov. Shapiro and his family were inside.
Cody Balmer, the Harrisburg man charged with attempted homicide and other crimes for allegedly setting the fire, called police soon after the incident and cited the governorâs âplansâ for Palestinian people, authorities said.
It is unclear how closely Balmer followed Shapiroâs stance on the conflict in Gaza, or whether the governor was targeted because of his faith and position as a Jewish leader. Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said Wednesday it is unlikely he will charge Balmer with ethnic intimidation at this point.
Police confirmed that Balmerâs mother reached out to authorities three days before the arson attempt, âconcerned for her sonâs well-being.â
State police, meanwhile, continue to investigate how Balmer was able to bypass Shapiroâs 24-7 security detail and the additional security assigned to the governorâs residence, climbing a fence, breaking two windows, and setting off Molotov cocktails, evading detection.
Reporters Gillian McGoldrick and Ximena Conde have more details.
What you should know today
A 77-year-old Uber driver is dead and a 22-year-old passenger is in critical condition after what appeared to be a targeted shooting in Center City, police say.
Federal authorities have captured a man suspected of shooting and injuring a 13-year-old in Kingsessing last week.
One of the most prolific contract killers in recent Philadelphia history was ordered Wednesday to spend at least 40 years in prison for taking part in seven murders.
Congressional Democrats including Sens. John Fetterman and Cory Booker are pressing the White House to facilitate the release of the Maryland man and El Salvador native who was mistakenly deported there last month.
Norristown-area Democrats refused to support the local school board presidentâs reelection bid. It may result in the loss of Latino representation.
Philadelphia will assess dozens of facilities, including its aging libraries and rec centers, to identify needed repairs and develop a plan to address them.
After over a year of legal conflict, the fate of Germantownâs YWCA is again uncertain after a judge declined to reconsider a developerâs bid to win control of the long-vacant city-owned building.
In its Season 4 finale, Abbott Elementary visited the Please Touch Museum with hundreds of local kids. Jordan Mailata made a fleeting cameo, too.
Experts say immigration is vital to Philadelphiaâs economy, and one in five residents is foreign-born. Around 22,000 Philly-area green card holders got theirs last year.
Yet the path to lawful permanent residence is âlimited,â expensive, and maze-like. Recent directives from the Trump administration could complicate the immigration process further.
The process looks different whether youâre applying via family, employer sponsorship, or a humanitarian program, but would likely involve a medical exam, lots of paperwork, and thousands of dollars.
Then comes the waiting.
Follow interactives designer Charmaine Runes through the green card maze.
đ§ Trivia time
Several Philly-tied figures were just named to Time Magazineâs annual list of the 100 most influential people. Which of these is not on the 2025 list?
A) Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts
B) Pop superstar Taylor Swift
C) Artist Mickalene Thomas
D) Kalaya chef Chutatip âNokâ Suntaranon
Think you know? Check your answer.
P.S. Also honored this week? A University of Pennsylvania political scientist, a filmmaker, a dancer, and a Gettysburg College professor, who were all named to the 100th class of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship.
What weâre...
đ Dancing to: Reggaeton, salsa, and bachata at SazĂłn, Phillyâs queer Latin pop-up party.
đœïž Visiting: Leo, the Kimmel Centerâs new flagship restaurant.
✠Glad to see: Philadelphia and New York working together in World Cup planning.
đ§âđ» Touring: The nondescript Northeast Philly office building that gets Comcast internet to customersâ homes ASAP.
đ Considering: What the 250th anniversary of Paul Revereâs ride can teach about defeating tyrants.
𧩠Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Philadelphia agency that aims to get vacant properties into productive use
BLANK DNA
Email us if you know the answer. Weâll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Jim Smith, who solved Wednesdayâs anagram: McCuskerâs Tavern. The Phillies sent a touching note and gift to the family of âSouth Phillyâs father,â who ran the bar for 56 years before his death on opening day.
Photo of the day
May today be photo-worthy. See you back here tomorrow.
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