Child-care shortage is keeping parents from work | Morning Newsletter
And, yellow whistles sound the alarm on anti-Asian violence.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Hello, dedicated readers of The Inquirer Morning Newsletter.
First: The child-care shortage right now is keeping parents in the region from getting back to work.
Then: Yellow whistles are being used to sound the alarm by people responding to the rise in anti-Asian violence.
And: Bebe Rexha and Flo Rida will headline this year’s Wawa Welcome America July 4th festival.
P.S. The 76ers bounced the Washington Wizards last night, 129-112, in Game 5 to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs. The win comes after patron saint Joel Embiid was sidelined with a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee.
— Ashley Hoffman (@_ashleyhoffman, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
The pandemic created a child-care crisis for working parents in the last year. Now that society is starting to reopen in the area it’s still tough to find, and it’s blocking parents from reentering the workforce. Parents are struggling to leave houses where they’ve been locking down to care for children for months.
Providers in the area have been having a hard time finding workers for their child-care centers. One factor? Low pay.
Perhaps most concerning of all is that the pandemic laid the burden squarely on the shoulders of women, setting the dramatic progress of their role in the workforce fathoms behind where they had advanced. And all of this could severely hinder the economy’s rebound.
Read on for Marina Affo’s story on the struggles facing area parents right now.
A yellow whistle may look like a piece of plastic. But to everyone who takes the safety device with them, it’s a more meaningful symbol of solidarity in the collective response to the rise in anti-Asian violence. Distribution started in spring. Participants can use the whistles to sound the alarm during a hateful incident.
By design, the whistle is yellow for two reasons. One: the hopeful color of spring daffodils. Two: a reminder that historically, yellow has been the shade of American xenophobia.
“Whistle-blowing is getting attention, attention from the public to the needs of the Asian community and the immigrant community,” Wei Chen, AAU civic-engagement coordinator said, praising the functionality and symbolism.
Reporter Jeff Gammage has the story on the hope behind the yellow whistle.
Helpful COVID-19 Resources
Track the latest data on cases in the region.
Symptoms of COVID-19, flu, common cold, and allergies can overlap. How to tell the difference.
Side effects mean your COVID-19 vaccine is working. But what if you don’t have a reaction?
No, you shouldn’t ask for someone’s vaccination status. Here’s what to do instead.
What you need to know today
Got your J4 plans sorted? Bebe Rexha and Flo Rida will headline this year’s Wawa Welcome America July 4th festival, and there will be a fireworks over the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 🎆
Camden elections are usually just formalities. Meet the two mayoral challengers trying to turn Tuesday’s Democratic primary into a heated race.
A mysterious ovary syndrome facing women actually raises the risk of getting COVID-19.
A federal appellate court has vacated the conviction of a Montgomery County woman serving a 21-year sentence after her friend overdosed and died while they were using heroin together. The court said the law under which she was convicted — originally designed to target narcotics dealers — should not apply in cases where drugs are jointly acquired and used together.
PSERS bet quite big on this brand whose IPO boosted a Steelers owner’s billions.
Seven months after a Bucks teen was killed by a hunter, his family is advocating for closure and change for hunting in public parks.
Through your eyes | #OurPhilly
Getting out of here never looked so artistic. Anyone getting out of town this summer?
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
🍸 Finally ready for a professional to hand you an adult beverage at cocktail o’clock? This is what you can expect to be “normal” at Philly-area restaurants.
🍲 And while we’re on the topic, check out reporter Mike Klein’s list of newcomer restaurants open in Philly.
🍦 Comp yourself onto a cone with our list of the best ice cream in Philly — from the mix-ins of Weckerley’s to a surprising treat from the buzzy restaurant Laserwolf.
Opinions
“Osaka didn’t quit. She chose herself. She prioritized herself in a way that society has told and shown her and women who look like her it just won’t So they have to do it themselves,” columnist Helen Ubiñas writes about tennis star Naomi Osaka’s courageous act.
“As a member of the media, I have often been dismayed by our fixation with telling Black stories centered on murder and mayhem, tragedy and pain. We must also tell the stories of Black people who organize, strategize, and stand up to racist systems. We must tell the stories of Black victory, because in telling those stories, we acknowledge how powerful Black people really are,” columnist Solomon Jones writes about success stories that deserve to be told.
“Mo’Nique makes a very good point. I don’t like seeing hair bonnets in public either. But what I dislike even more is singling out African American women for criticism over their fashion choices,” columnist Jenice Armstrong writes that playing respectability politics with Black women should stop.
What we’re reading
This is where you can go roller skating in Philly this summer, per Billy Penn.
The Atlantic can take you very deep into lessons to learn from volcanoes.
Kate Winslet is a quote machine, and the New York Times nabbed her for a filter-free, heart-to-heart about Mare of Easttown, in which she talks about specifically picking “unflattering” clothes.
Total pro Edith Surreal knows how to rile up a crowd of wrestling fans. Want proof? Look no further than her perfected “Fruit Rollup pin.” It’s in the ring that she says she came into her own, and after a lot of thought, she decided to transition. “Being a wrestler gave me the confidence to transition ... and I transitioned while I was already performing, so I was able to put my transition on display,” she told reporter Stephanie Farr. “Once I started meeting fans and they’d come out to me and share their story, it felt like this is so much bigger than myself.”