đ ď¸ One Philly rowhouse at a time | Morning Newsletter
And biotech progress at risk.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/NEJ7VBKL2JHPJACVF45DDE2SG4.jpg)
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Happy Wednesday. Our streak of sun ends today, with showers expected in the afternoon and temps in the high 60s.
Today we take a look at a free renovation program that aims to help low-income residents stay in their homes longer, especially in gentrifying neighborhoods with older housing stock.
And a congressional crackdown on Chinese biotech manufacturers could strain the Philly-area companies that rely on them.
P.S. After I noted yesterday that Tuesday was the second of two Hatfield Phillies Franks BOGO Nights at Citizens Bank Park, a reader pointed out that the Phillies added a third, on Tuesday, May 7. All hail discounted dogs!
â Julie Zeglen (@juliezeglen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
A Philly nonprofit is helping low-income residents stay in place by making their houses safer and healthier â for free.
Rebuilding Together Philadelphia partners with grassroots orgs to identify homeowners who could benefit from improvement efforts, working on multiple homes on a block at a time, primarily in West and North Philadelphia. Renovations range from new flooring, roofs, and windows to electrical upgrades and handrail installation.
đ By the numbers: A typical upgrade costs $15,000. RTP has assisted 2,100 homeowners since 1989 and expects to service 130 dwellings this year.
đ Why West: A recent reno event focused on the 5200 block of Sansom Street, not too far from University City. Gentrification and stock of older homes are chief drivers in how RTP picks the blocks it supports.
đ Notable quote: âOne of the greatest crises that faces America is affordable housing, and weâre losing homes every year because a roof fails and the house starts taking water, which destroys everything,â said Robert Bellinger, who cofounded the nonprofit. âOnce a house is demolished, itâs gone. And the price of replacing it is astronomical.â
Kevin Riordan has the details on the programâs impact.
TikTok isnât the only Chinese company facing scrutiny by U.S. Congress.
Chinese biotech leaders WuXi AppTec and BGI Group have plenty of ties to the Philadelphia region, from production deals to employees based here. That poses a risk to their local partners, as Congress threatens to cut off federal funding to companies that do business with them, citing a national-security risk.
One of those partners is Cabaletta Bio, which is developing cell therapies targeting autoimmune diseases. The Penn-tied firm said in a recent SEC filing that reducing WuXiâs manufacturing capacity âcould adversely impactâ product trials, among other challenges.
Joe DiStefano explains whatâs happening at the federal level, and what it means for one of Phillyâs most prominent industries.
What you should know today
President Joe Biden visited hometown Scranton on Tuesday to tout his economic policies and working-class roots.
A warrant was issued for the arrest of State Rep. Kevin Boyle after he allegedly violated a protection from abuse order. Meanwhile, House Democrats are throwing money behind Sean Dougherty instead of the incumbent.
Which other races are ones to watch in the April 23 primary election? We have explainers on the Pennsylvania auditor general race and Democratsâ face-off to challenge Trump-aligned U.S. Rep. Scott Perry in the stateâs 10th Congressional District.
The body of 18-year-old Quadir Diaz, who has been missing since March 7 and was last seen near the Wissahickon Creek, has been found, per his mother. His friend Ausar Scott-Thomasâ body was pulled from the Schuylkill at the end of March.
SEPTA plans to spend $2.6 billion over the next fiscal year, adding more police officers, increasing service frequency, and replaing cars on the El. But thereâs a hitch.
A group of students at Collingswood High School who allegedly organized a White Student Union are being investigated for possible charges of harassment, intimidation, and bullying.
Police say theyâre cracking down on bad drivers and illegal parkers along North Broad Street from City Hall to Cheltenham Ave.
The controversial practice of shifting teachers to reflect actual enrollment weeks into the school year, is ending with the 2024-25 school year, Philly Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. announced.
If you run up Art Museum steps on weekends, you may be lucky enough to be accompanied by the musical stylings of trumpet player Mark Nicholson. Heâll make you feel like the real champ.
đ§ Trivia time
Chadds Ford wedding band Jellyroll is in a trademark fight with which musical act?
A) CoComelon, for its âPeanut Butter Jelly Jamâ nursery rhyme
B) Phish, the iconic jam band
C) BeyoncĂŠ, of âI donât think youâre ready for this jellyâ fame
D) Jelly Roll, the country singer and rapper
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we're...
đ Trying: Popcorn chicken served in a popcorn popper at Old Cityâs BlackHen.
đ° Ogling: This $12 million Gladwyne home thatâs basically a castle, moat and all.
âď¸ Tracking: Our mail ballots, which must be returned to county election offices by 8 p.m. on April 23.
𧊠Unscramble the anagram
This local sports star will be named to Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hint: đ
JEDI MOBILE
Email us if you know the answer. Weâll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Akili Davis, who solved Tuesdayâs anagram: Spruce Hill. The West Philadelphia neighborhood is facing developer pushback to its campaign for a historical district to protect its Victorian homes from demolition.
Photo of the day
Happy birthday, Wawa. Personally, Iâm partial to Wally Goose.
Iâll be back in your inbox tomorrow! Have a great Wednesday.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.