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Meet the Flyers’ wake-surfing head coach, Philly women protest Kavanaugh | Morning Newsletter

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Ais daughter Avery watches from the boat as Flyers coach Dave Hakstol wake-surfed during the summer on Pelican Lake in Minnesota.The second year coach decided it was time to open up, agreeing to a series of interviews this summer at the Flyers' headquarters in Voorhees; his family's home in Grand Forks, N.D.; and his in-laws' lake house in northern Minnesota.
Ais daughter Avery watches from the boat as Flyers coach Dave Hakstol wake-surfed during the summer on Pelican Lake in Minnesota.The second year coach decided it was time to open up, agreeing to a series of interviews this summer at the Flyers' headquarters in Voorhees; his family's home in Grand Forks, N.D.; and his in-laws' lake house in northern Minnesota.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
    by Aubrey Nagle
    Updated 
    Published 

    The Morning Newsletter

    Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Dave Hakstol: man of mystery — at least, that's what this morning's Mike Sielski profile on the Flyers' head coach could be called. The Canadian import isn't well known in these parts, and perhaps that's all about to change. In other news, Washington has been dominating the news cycle with conflicts over Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Both stories have much more to come. Closer to home, Philly police are trying to fight Center City traffic. I wish them luck.

P.S. It's been one year since the Inquirer Morning Newsletter first began landing in inboxes. I want to thank you for joining us on this journey so far — and ask that you send along your feedback, questions, and suggestions by emailing the address below. I'm all ears.

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— Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)

Dave Hakstol, unmasked: inside the life of the Flyers’ wake-surfing head coach

Columnist Mike Sielski’s profile on Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol begins with the Alberta native wake-surfing to the soundtrack of High School Musical.

And it only gets more revealing from there.

Despite a rebuilding phase, two playoff appearances for the Flyers, and Philly's generally rabid fans, Hakstol has remained a bit of an enigma to his public. Until now.

Philly women protest as Washington roils over Kavanaugh

About 100 people gathered at Dilworth Park on Monday afternoon as part of a national action supporting the women who have accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct.

Kavanaugh, facing a second accusation of misconduct just as accuser Christine Blasey Ford plans to testify about her allegations Thursday, told Fox News Monday "I'm not going anywhere."

Also on Thursday, Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will meet with President Trump after reports swirled he would be fired or resign. Rosenstein has supported the special counsel probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and once reportedly discussed secretly recording Trump in a bid to remove him from office.

A new approach to clear up Center City traffic jams

At certain times of day, walking through Center City can be much faster than taking a SEPTA bus.

That's just one reason you'll be seeing more Philadelphia police in the neighborhood during the day. They're part of a new pilot program redeploying officers to enforce traffic laws in hopes of improving congestion.

The effort comes just a week after City Council President Darrell L. Clarke proposed a whole new class of officers assigned to do the same. Hey, no one likes traffic.

What you need to know today

  1. Protesters flocked to Harrisburg Monday as the Pennsylvania state House voted to temporarily lift the civil statute of limitations barring victims of child sex abuse older than 30 from suing over abuse. A full House vote is expected later this week.

  2. Bill Cosby is expected to be sentenced today for drugging and assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. Yesterday prosecutors asked a Montgomery County judge to send him to prison for 10 years while Cosby's lawyers asked he be sentenced to house arrest.

  3. A 17-year-old girl was hit in the shoulder by a stray bullet Monday morning on her way to Central High School. The gunfire, authorities said, came from two males shooting at each other or at a third person on 16th Street near West Olney Avenue.

  4. The 7-year-old boy who died after a fall from a SEPTA train Sunday night was remembered at a vigil Monday. Family and friends praised his entrepreneurial spirit; he was selling candy to passengers when the accident occurred.

  5. Hall of Famer Tommy McDonald, the most popular member of the NFL-champion 1960 Eagles, died Monday at 84. His enthusiasm and skill made him a favorite among players and fans.

  6. Comcast may have won the bid for Europe's Sky television and internet service, but their stocks took a tumble Monday over concerns they overpaid. Oops.

Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly

Ahh, what a peaceful way to begin the season, @danlc.

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

  1. Imhotep Charter's football team got two special gifts Monday: plenty of brand new football gear and a visit from Eagle Malcolm Jenkins.

  2. Healthy food lovers, rejoice! Pennsylvania has its first Sprouts Farmers Market. Check out the don't-miss items for sale at what some would call a cheaper version of Whole Foods.

  3. Voters at Haverford College got their wish: the school will get its own polling place in time for the November midterm elections.

  4. A car-sized NASA spacecraft is on its way to the sun and will get within a few million miles of the sun (without melting) in 2025. Considering the sun is 93 million miles away, that's a pretty big deal.

  5. Adolescent boys struggle with body image as much as girls do, so larger men are joining the body positivity movement by making Instagram their very own catwalk.

  6. Eagles fans may be happy that Carson Wentz is finally back, but his return means the discussion can now shift from his health to his performance. Gulp.

Opinions

"I emphasize the importance of a vision because it was what people saw possible for me that led me to where I am. Thanks to the foresight and wisdom of my advisers, I was encouraged to pursue a path I wouldn't have otherwise considered."
— Temple University’s first Rhodes Scholar, Hazim Hardeman, on why one’s circumstances shouldn’t define their success.

  1. The Pennsylvania state Senate should eliminate automatic driver's license suspensions for incarcerated adults because it unfairly affects innocent children and dependents, write Pittsburgh Foundation president and CEO Maxwell King and Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce president Matthew Smith.

  2. Corporate tax breaks require a commitment to the city giving them to truly be effective for the community, write former Camden city attorney Patricia A. Darden and former mayoral chief of staff Karen A. Robinson.

What we’re reading

  1. Before yesterday's Rosenstein news broke, the New Yorker released an analysis of University of Pennsylvania professor Kathleen Hall Jamieson's report stating it's likely Russia helped swing the 2016 presidential election for Trump.

  2. WHYY has unearthed a concerning trend in Philly students relying on expensive cabs to transport them to and from school, and what it means for our modern school system. Spoiler alert: it is not an optimistic story.

  3. Just across the Delaware River, Paulsboro, N.J., is taking an innovative approach to cleaning up abandoned homes. NJ.com's report lays out the details.

  4. Philadelphia's first image-based system for tracking criminals long preceded computers. Hidden City's story on the city's first "Rogues' Gallery" is a fascinating bit of history.

  5. Need a break from today's news? The Washington Post on the trouble with making franchise films with the world watching is a good escapist read.

Your Daily Dose of | What on Earth?

The Flyers have a new mascot. His name is Gritty. Reactions are…mixed.