Bruce Springsteen’s Philly-area history | Morning Newsletter
And the feds will conduct a formal review into SEPTA.
The Morning Newsletter
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Happy Friday. It should be mostly sunny with a high of 85.
Five months ago, Bruce Springsteen was here for this sold-out show at the Wells Fargo Center.
He’s back, as part of a second round of North American tour dates at Citizens Bank Park. Ahead of his return to Philly next week, we have a package of our tour coverage all in one spot.
But first, refresh your knowledge of “The Boss.” Our lead story maps out Springsteen’s history in the region.
— Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Springsteen will mark his return to Philly Aug. 16 and 18.
For the occasion, we pieced together Springsteen’s history in the region. All of these places were either referenced in song lyrics or were key locations he played on his way to becoming “The Boss.”
The Main Point, 880 Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr: This is the coffeehouse where he played 45 shows in 24 nights between January 1973 and February 1975. There’s no other venue outside of Asbury Park that was more important to his rise.
North Hancock Street: Springsteen wrote his “Streets of Philadelphia” single for Jonathan Demme’s 1993 movie Philadelphia. It remains his final top 10 hit.
The Spectrum: 3601 S. Broad St. used to be the longtime home of the Sixers and the Flyers, but now it’s a parking lot. Springsteen played his first Philly show here in 1973 as an opener, and then returned as a headliner three years later. In total, he performed here 42 times, including four nights in the run to the building’s closing in 2009.
Read more for additional locations.
If either show next week will be your first one, we have a guide for you.
SEPTA announced Thursday that it will begin “safety reinforcement” training for all employees on Monday.
Be aware: Riders can expect delays. About 10% of SEPTA’s bus and trolley operators will be pulled from duty each day to attend trainings. The main service disruptions will be within the first two to three weeks.
Meanwhile, the Federal Transportation Administration said it will step in with a formal review of SEPTA’s maintenance and safety protocols after a string of bus and trolley crashes that killed one person and injured at least 40 others.
There’s been eight major collisions involving SEPTA vehicles in the past 20 days.
FTA disclosed their plans in a letter obtained by The Inquirer and addressed to SEPTA General Manager and CEO Leslie D. Richards and state Transportation Secretary Michael Carroll.
Click here to see the contents of the letter.
What you should know today
The families of two Chester children who were struck and killed by an Amtrak train in April have filed a lawsuit against the company. They allege the company was negligent because it failed to fix a hole in the fence surrounding the track for years.
The Central Bucks school board is considering a policy that would ban transgender students from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identities.
Thousands of physicians are petitioning the Philly-based American Board of Internal Medicine to loosen ongoing certification requirements they say are excessive. At least 12,000 people have signed a Change.org petition.
The Sixers shared new conceptual renderings of the proposed arena that includes a 20-story apartment tower.
Although some research suggests that green development could aid gentrification, experts and community advocates say that it’s not inevitable.
Eataly, the Italian marketplace with four dozen locations around the world, will open in King of Prussia in 2025.
🧠 Trivia time 🧠
Dorney Park is set to get the region’s first dive roller coaster in 2024. That means the ride will have an almost completely vertical drop.
It’ll drop riders from 152 feet at a 95-degree angle.
How fast can it go?
A) 64 mph
B) 60 mph
C) 72 mph
D) 75 mph
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
👀 Watching: Former President Donald Trump’s valet pleaded not guilty on Thursday in the classified documents case.
🥪 Reading: Columnist Stephanie Farr reviewed Wawa’s new all-digital test store ... and wasn’t impressed.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram 🧩
Hint: Connie Mack Stadium
BAKER HIPS
We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Stacy Stone, who correctly guessed Thursday’s answer: Pilgrim Roasters. Email us if you know the answer.
Photo of the day
I hope you end your week with a smile as big as Lorenzen’s. Paola has you covered on Sunday, and I’ll see you Monday. 👋🏽