Villanova and Penn in NCAA tourney, Pa. special election, another winter storm | Morning Newsletter
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Hello, friends, and happy Monday. Local eyes are on Villanova and Penn as March Madness gears up, and national eyes are on western Pennsylvania ahead of this week's special congressional election. Oh, and there may be another winter storm heading our way. I'm just the messenger, folks.
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— Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)
» READ MORE: March Madness: Villanova is No. 1 seed, Penn beats Harvard to earn tourney spot
Boy, was it a big weekend for local college men's basketball. Villanova took home the Big East tournament championship trophy over Providence Saturday. On Sunday, University of Pennsylvania beat Harvard in the Ivy League championship to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament, their first since 2007.
As expected, Villanova earned the No. 1 seed in the East region of the NCAA tournament, but they won't know their first-round opponent until Tuesday night. Penn got a No. 16 seed and will face No. 1 seeded Kansas in the Midwest Regional on Thursday afternoon.
Here's the tournament TV schedule. Let the madness begin.
» READ MORE: The world is listening to Parkland teens. Some Philly kids wonder: Why not us?
Survivors of the Parkland, Fla., shooting have received national attention from the media, celebrities, and lawmakers in their fight for gun control. Conversations continue as schools in our region respond to a spike in threats, Trump backs off some of his gun control promises, and students plan walkouts and marches.
But some students in Philadelphia are hesitant to join them — not because they're unsympathetic with their cause. It's the opposite, in fact; they want to know where the national attention is for the gun violence they face in their own neighborhoods.
The Philadelphia Student Union will be joining upcoming walkouts. But when they do, they have their own Philly-centric list of demands.
» READ MORE: Western Pa. special election draws national attention and money
Democrat Conor Lamb, a Marine and ex-federal prosecutor, is looking to score an upset in Trump country tomorrow in a special election for the open 18th Congressional District seat south of Pittsburgh.
The election is poised to measure Democratic energy and backlash against President Trump, who held a rally Saturday in support of Lamb's Republican opponent, State Rep. Rick Saccone. During the rally, he attacked the press, made false claims about his support from women voters, and called Rep. Maxine Waters a "low-IQ individual."
If Lamb does win the race, columnist Will Bunch writes, it will teach Democrats exactly the wrong lesson.
What you need to know today
Sorry in advance: it looks like there's another winter storm heading our way, meaning we could see some more snow as soon as this evening.
Two months after revelations about Larry Wittig's past — being tried for and acquitted of rape, admitting to a sexual relationship with a teen whom he met as her crew coach — came to light, he's still leading the school board in Tamaqua, Schuylkill County.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives returns to session today with tighter security after a lawmaker obtained a restraining order against Rep. Nick Miccarelli.
The biggest PAC donor to Gov. Tom Wolf, a channel for doctors and lawyers who own pharmacies, has poured money into his reelection campaign — just as lawmakers debate a bill that could change how they do business.
Authorities broke up a dog-fighting ring in South Philly this weekend, rescuing two dogs and taking 14 people into custody.
A South Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars headquarters is being emptied and put up for sale after its members allegedly turned it into a corner bar.
Federal judges heard arguments in the Pennsylvania gerrymandering case Friday and said they'll release a decision about whether to block the new state map soon. Need a refresher on the redistricting news? This timeline of events will catch you up.
New Jersey lawmakers promised to legalize recreational marijuana but, despite progress elsewhere, it's no longer looking like a sure bet.
The Phillies have landed star free agent pitcher Jake Arrieta for a three-year deal and, in case you missed it, the Eagles are trading wide receiver Torrey Smith for a Philadelphia native cornerback.
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That’s Interesting
Jimmy Kimmel's infant son, born with a congenital heart defect, could face a heart surgery when he grows up that had been very tricky until recently, when CHOP helped pioneer a new approach.
Have you seen a black and gold coffin haunting the streets of North Philadelphia? Its owner has a specific, and noble, reason for its constant presence.
Weekend warriors, add "Visit Camden" to your to-do list: the county's getting two new parks (one opening this spring) plus a set of trails connecting the Cooper and Delaware Rivers.
Hulk Hogan put on a Phillies jersey and joined spring training to chat with a group of young pitchers Friday. He was nervous they wouldn't know who he was.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has the Eagles to thank for a new addition to its galleries: a portrait of a great American patriot.
A Levittown high school has inspired a new NBC series, but that hasn't stopped the show's creator from making it his own.
Some small suburban theaters are finding success in the Netflix age, but the historic Anthony Wayne theater needs the community's help if it wants to survive.
The Flyers host Vegas tonight for a game that is critical if they want to stay in the race for the Metropolitan title.
Joel Embiid led the Sixers to a road win last night against the Nets, but if they want to make an impact come playoffs, they'll need to step up their three-point defense.
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Opinions
Now that President Trump has shifted attention from trade wars and porn stars, columnist Trudy Rubin asks whether he knows what he's doing ahead of direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Migration policies that allow immigrants to sponsor their relatives are bad for Pennsylvania workers, writes Frank J. Connor, chair of the Villanova University College Republicans.
What we’re reading
Want to know how City Hall's iconic clocks deal with Daylight Saving Time? Go inside the tower with Billy Penn.
Philadelphia history is full of surprises. WHYY's story on a South Philly home that once served as an Underground Railroad station is a stark example of how the city does and does not preserve its historic landmarks.
La Colombe co-founder Todd Carmichael is known for speaking out on issues that matter to him, and in the Philadelphia Citizen's new profile, he explains how his upbringing influences his activism.
Do you love Fixer Upper and think Bobby Berk is the best Queer Eye cast member? First off, it's obviously Tan France. But second, you should read Curbed's call-out of popular home renovation shows for supporting a favorite American pastime: commercialism.
The Atlantic's latest cover story explores how American evangelicalism has changed to fit the political moment. It's an interesting read that dives into 150 years of history.