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Mistrial for Menendez, SRC to self-destruct, fire rips through West Chester nursing home | Morning Newsletter

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Sen. Bob Menendez waves to reporters while arriving at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Courthouse.
Sen. Bob Menendez waves to reporters while arriving at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Courthouse.Read moreJulio Cortez

Happy almost-the-weekend. Already gearing up for the Eagles-Cowboys game? Before the fun begins, catch up on updates from the SRC (it's gone), the GOP tax plan (it passed), and Roy Moore (more accusations, that is).

If you like what you're reading, it's free to sign up to get this newsletter in your inbox every weekday. I would love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and feedback, so please email me, tweet me @aubsn, or reach our social team on Facebook.

— Aubrey Nagle

» READ MORE: Mistrial in Sen. Menendez corruption case

It's a mistrial in Sen. Bob Menendez's corruption case. After a week of deliberation (and re-deliberation, following one juror's release), the jury said Thursday that it was deadlocked, again.

The Democratic senator from New Jersey was charged with accepting gifts from a Florida eye doctor in exchange for taking action on issues important to him. Menendez denied it all along, saying he and the doctor were just good friends.

Prosecutors have yet to announce whether they'd seek to retry the Senator. In the meantime, he's secure in his seat—until the 2018 elections, that is.

» READ MORE: School Reform Commission votes to self-destruct

In an historic move for Philly schools, the School Reform Commission, which has overseen schools in the city for the past 16 years, voted to disband last night. This is the first big step in Mayor Jim Kenney's plan for the city to take back control of its schools.

The state education secretary still needs to sign off, and then the SRC will be gone for good as of June 30, 2018. In its place, Mayor Kenney will appoint a nine-member local board. Parents are hoping the board will reflect the district it serves.

This decision is all about the cash: state control did not bring more money per student to Philly, and money wasn't distributed according to need. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers is so glad to see the SRC's end they held a rally yesterday to celebrate.

» READ MORE: Undercover Gangster: The Reckoning

After a long chase, a gunman heads to trial — and springs a final surprise. Dive into the final chapter of David Gambacorta's week-long true crime serial narrative.

Catching up? Read the story so far.
Chapter 1: A detective has to untangle a shocking murder plot, while a key suspect is leading dual lives.
Chapter 2: Then, a hospital room visit helps him ID a gunman who feels compelled to take a deadly path.
Chapter 3: A detective closes in on a young man behind a violent mystery, but shocking news interrupts the chase.
Chapter 4: Detective Joe Murray finally gets to interrogate Michael Lockhart and finds surprising information on the suspect's cellphone.

What you need to know today

  1. A fire ripped through the Barclay Friends nursing home in West Chester overnight, sending 200 residents into 40-degree temperatures and an unknown number to area hospitals. The number of residents evacuated and injured has not yet been confirmed, and it's not clear if any fatalities were reported.

  2. The House passed a big GOP tax bill yesterday that would overhaul personal and corporate taxes. The Senate's considering its own version, too.

  3. Two more women have accused Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of pursuing them as young girls, and Democratic Senator Al Franken has also been accused of sexual misconduct.

  4. Excitement is building as the Eagles-Cowboys match-up gets closer and closer. Here's what our sports crew thinks will happen Sunday night.

  5. Following the hate-crime arrest of former Bordentown Police Chief Frank Nucera Jr., the township's acting Police Chief addressed the local NAACP chapter last night to discuss community concerns. He said the department has made "360-degree" turns.

  6. New York, San Francisco and D.C. all have mandated affordable housing laws, and soon Philly may, too. Architecture critic Inga Saffron thinks there are better ways to address the housing crisis.

  7. Popular Center City watering hole Tavern on Broad was among eateries with serious health violations this month. Two words: Fly pupae.

» READ MORE: #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 to build those followers!

That’s Interesting

  1. A famous photo of a woman being catcalled has been removed from Center City's Gran Caffe L'aquila following customer complaints. The subject of the photo, 90-year-old Ninalee Allen Craig, says she still gets catcalled.

  2. Four. More. Years! Robert Covington trusts the process. He's set to extend his contract with the Sixers.

  3. Have you seen all those "Stand With Meek Mill" billboards and SEPTA bus wraps? The ad takeover comes courtesy of Jay-Z's Roc Nation and billionaire Michael Rubin.

  4. "Growing up in Philly, it's a blessing just to see 18." Let columnist Helen Ubiñas introduce you to Brian the Balloon Artist, a smiley 19-year-old building his own business.

  5. A Philly entrepreneur is serving tea with a side of snark. Her new line of tea, now backed by two Shark Tank investors, is as expletive-laden as her hometown.

  6. Today's the 100th anniversary of Auguste Rodin's death, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art  and The Barnes Foundation are celebrating the artist in style.

  7. The Eastern hellbender, the largest North American salamander, may soon be Pennsylvania's official state amphibian. Its regular name is cool, but its nickname is the "snot otter." Gross.

Opinions

"Now is the time to rightly honor and remember the women who've played an invaluable role in shaping our city and our history." Streets Dept. founder and curator
— Conrad Benner wants five more female monuments in Philadelphia, and he’s got some suggestions.

  1. Philadelphia 3.0's Jon Geeting is all about SEPTA allowing open strollers on buses. As he explains, Philly's only walkable if you're an able-bodied, childless adult.

  2. Now that the SRC is caput, Rand Quinn, assistant professor at Penn's Graduate School of Education, says the new school board should be elected, not appointed.

What we’re reading

  1. Pew Charitable Trusts released a big new report on poverty in Philadelphia Wednesday. No time to dig in? PlanPhilly's Jim Saska broke down some of its larger points.

  2. I've seen Lorenzo Buffa's Analog watches before, but I had no idea what it takes to make the wooden time pieces. They're like the opposite of the Apple Watch, reports The Philadelphia Citizen.

  3. In the wake of last week's elections and upcoming changes to Philly schools, this CityLab essay on the importance of mayors and "new localism" has me thinking of Mayor Kenney.

  4. If you've considered becoming a vegan or just need some healthier dinner options, you'll love Grub Street's Encyclopedia of Vegan Food. Prepare to be amazed by the many uses of coconut.

  5. I haven't owned a pair of Vans shoes since middle school, but this Esquire deep dive into the SoCal company's comeback got me nostalgic.

Your Daily Dose of | Moral Support

Cheering on friends at the Philly Marathon this weekend? You're going to need these funny sign ideas.