Nation responds to Florida shooting, how Philly murals tell black history | Morning Newsletter
All the local news you need to know to start your day, delivered straight to your email.
/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-pmn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/XCDTNB7M55AZ7CODNZ535FFIEQ.jpg)
Welcome to Friday, folks. It is a very rainy day out there today with warm-for-February temperatures. Today we're following the national response to Wednesday's school shooting in Parkland, Florida, as well as next steps for Pennsylvania's congressional map and battles brewing over the new school board. Let's jump in.
If you like what you're reading, tell your friends it's free to sign up for this newsletter here.
— Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)
» READ MORE: How murals tell the story of black Philadelphia
Murals have become ubiquitous in Philadelphia's black enclaves, and for the artists who create them, it's a chance to tell a story the community can't ignore.
Though Mural Arts Philadelphia has become an avenue to this work for many artists, one artist says working for the group calls for compromise. Others agree its art selection process doesn't always connect with the community it serves. Regardless of how they come to mural making, as my colleague Cassie Owens reports, artists around the city know they're writing history for black communities, too.
» READ MORE: Trump, media respond to Florida school shooting
The man accused of fatally shooting 17 people at a Florida high school Wednesday has confessed to carrying out the killings. Thirteen wounded survivors were still hospitalized Thursday, two in critical condition.
President Trump addressed the mass shooting from the White House Thursday, focusing on "the difficult issue of mental health" but making no mention of gun violence.
Following the slaying, media coverage ranged from a CNN pundit crying on air to wild "false flag" conspiracy theories. Fox News opinion host Laura Ingraham called the gun used by the shooter "so safe."
Events like these often require difficult conversations with loved ones. Read these tips for talking with children about school shootings.
» READ MORE: Why Philly’s white homeowners get federal mortgages meant for black neighborhoods
A new analysis puts into stark relief how a law designed to correct the damage of redlining, in which the government warned banks away from black neighborhoods, is helping white newcomers move in.
How? The landmark Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 is based on geography. Thus, today young white buyers seeking homes in historically black neighborhoods are reaping most of the law's benefits.
What you need to know today
A slew of proposals for new congressional maps were submitted Thursday to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Now it's up to the high court to adopt a reconfigured map by Monday.
Many Puerto Rican evacuees living in Philadelphia are struggling to find housing, and yet the city has had room for up to 50 families available the whole time. Why the wait? It wouldn't be fair to the rest of the Housing Authority wait list.
A battle is already brewing over the new Philadelphia school board. City Council President Darrell L. Clarke has backed an amendment to an upcoming bill that would make it difficult for Mayor Jim Kenney to remove members for cause.
Improvements are on the way for two intersections on deadly Roosevelt Boulevard as part of the city's Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic-related deaths by 2030.
Temple University is investigating a note using anti-black and homophobic language sent to the school's Queer People of Color group. The group's president believes one person is responsible.
Councilwoman Cindy Bass wants the city to consider expunging the records of people convicted of low-level drug offenses as part of their fight against the opioid crisis, and the idea is picking up steam.
City officials announced last month they are suing 10 pharmaceutical companies for fueling the city's opioid crisis. District Attorney Larry Krasner announced Thursday he is, too.
Through Your Eyes | #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!
That’s Interesting
Philadelphia Orchestra music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin is heading to the Metropolitan Opera this fall, taking up his post as music director two years early. Meanwhile, the Orchestra's 2018-2019 schedule is devoid of female composers (yet features a Bugs Bunny program).
Women are being recognized, however, by the food world's Oscars. Tova du Plessis of East Passyunk's Essen Bakery, Ellen Yin of Fork and High Street on Market and more local chefs are semifinalists for the James Beard awards.
WXPN-FM, University of Pennsylvania's adult-alternative radio station, is embarking on a yearlong project, Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul. Get ready for free concerts, film screenings and more.
Creed II actress Tessa Thompson isn't in Black Panther, out this weekend, but like her upcoming film Annihilation, she says it's a "game-changer."
Speaking of Black Panther, over on Philly.com's Instagram account, several important black figures of Philadelphia have been sharing personal reflections on Black History Month. CBS3's Rahel Solomon took over Thursday and reflected on how important the film will be for young people.
Happy Lunar New Year! For reporter Bethany Ao, it took traveling across the world to understand what the family-focused holiday is really all about. Looking for ways to celebrate, too? Don't miss these local events.
Sad news for Mandarin Garden fans: the Willow Grove staple is closing this weekend, soon to be replaced by a midrise apartment building.
Weavers Way co-ops have a dedicated following in Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill. Here's how they're surviving — expanding, even — in the Amazon age of grocery stores.
Opinions
Following criticism of proposed safe injection sites for Philadelphia, Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner write that criminalizing crack addiction was a mistake, thus Philly's approach to opioids must be different.
Matt Bergheiser, president of University City District, and Keith Leaphart, chairman of The Lenfest Foundation, offer one way to reduce poverty in West Philadelphia: connecting University City employers to West Philly residents.
What we’re reading
This collection of messages sent from students who survived the Parkland, Florida school shooting, gathered by New York Magazine, is a heartbreaking and unfortunately necessary read.
The City's Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet has created an interactive map to show how trashy (meaning litter-filled, folks) your neighborhood is. Curbed Philly breaks down what it all means.
WHYY tells the tale of a class of eighth graders who took a swing at creating a new congressional map for Pennsylvania. "It's not very difficult," they said. Let them give you hope today.
As the city continues to react to the possibility of safe-injection sites coming to town, PlanPhilly checked in with those on the front lines of the drug war for an interesting conversation.
USA Today's multimedia report on a potential border wall between the U.S. and Mexico includes everything from interactive maps of the fence to a virtual reality experience at the border. You'll want some time to explore.
Your Daily Dose of | Red Carpet
A New Jersey man has turned his parents' department store into the East Coast's premier supplier of red carpets. Even Pope Francis and President Obama have walked on them.