How heroin gets into the U.S. and Philly; shutdown impacting domestic violence shelters | Morning Newsletter

Welcome to the 20th day of the partial government shutdown. If this lasts until Saturday, and it looks like it might‚ it’ll set a new record — not the good kind, of course. In the meantime, its effects continue to pile up and area domestic violence shelters are starting to feel the pressure as they face the uncertain future of federal funding. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump made his case for building a wall along the southern U.S. border, the request on which the shutdown hinges. He suggested it might help keep drugs out of the country, but my colleague Aubrey Whelan has found that a wall is not likely to keep heroin and fentanyl from getting to Philly.

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

In his prime-time address Tuesday night, President Trump suggested the wall he wants built for the southern border of the U.S. might stop heroin from entering the country.

In reality, traffickers smuggle most of the heroin through legal crossing points that are patrolled, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

So, how does it happen? Inquirer reporting and recent DEA reports show that heroin and fentanyl come into the U.S. and to the Philadelphia region in ways unlikely to be stopped by a border wall.

The partial shutdown of the federal government continues and yesterday’s negotiating session between President Trump and congressional leaders ended almost as soon as it began.

The longer it goes on, the bigger domino-effect the shutdown has. Programs that rely on federal funding to aid vulnerable populations, for instance, are starting to worry.

Some area domestic-violence shelters say they could have to cut services if the shutdown continues, and they’re already starting to feel its effects.

In 2009, Michael Beautyman’s Porsche 911 Carrera was flooded by torrential rain in Florida. State Farm refused to pay for thousands of dollars in repairs, so Beautyman, a Flourtown-based lawyer, sued the insurer.

The case has gone nowhere in nine years, but a new twist has thickened the plot of the slow-moving drama.

Beautyman now claims that State Farm was helped by a judge who oversaw the case and was once State Farm’s lawyer. Legal experts, however, don’t see a problem.

I believe “wow” is the appropriate word here, @hswphilly.

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“Unfortunately, our state’s antiquated voter registration law — rather than harnessing this enthusiasm by making it easier for residents to vote — perpetuates an outdated system that restricts access and discourages participation.” — State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro on the case for same-day voter registration in Pennsylvania.

Twenty years ago, Philly cardiologist Kimberly French’s bag was stolen with her keys and wallet inside. On Monday she finally got it all back after a plumber found the bag inside a wall.