47 and Philly | Morning Newsletter
🏫 And support for ninth graders.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Good morning, Philly. After our big weekend snow, expect below-zero wind chills in the region today and tomorrow. City schools are on a two-hour delay this morning.
Donald Trump took the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States Monday. His second Inauguration Day offered a clear view of his priorities for the next four years, many of which will directly impact Philadelphians.
And the Philly school district is betting a focus on ninth grade will help raise the high-school graduation rate. Here’s what to know today.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
P.S. Sunday’s newsletter included an incorrect link to the obituary of local artist Will Stokes Jr. Read it here.
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Within hours of retaking office, Trump enacted a slew of executive orders that will have a tangible effect on Philadelphians.
Focus on immigration: Trump issued several orders to dramatically toughen immigration standards and enforcement after promising to quickly begin deporting “millions and millions” of people. The president also signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants born in the United States, a move certain to face legal challenges.
Impact on workers: Trump signed executive orders on the federal workforce that implement a hiring freeze and mandate in-person work. In Philly, a major hub for federal workers, agencies are often stretched thin and have crucial telework employees.
Clemency for Capitol rioters: Trump has granted clemency to nearly every defendant involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, paving the way for some to be released from prison. The pardons and commutations will affect hundreds of defendants from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including Philadelphia Proud Boys leader Zachary Rehl.
How Pennsylvanians reacted: Some who traveled to D.C. for the inauguration were left out in the cold, but still shared warm feelings about the new president. In Bucks County, Trump supporters — including a 10-year-old superfan — celebrated the event with a watch party. Meanwhile, hundreds in largely blue Philadelphia demonstrated their opposition, from an immigrant-led music performance to a protest march. And Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has joined other Democrats in vowing to work with Trump as needed.
Biden’s last acts: Outgoing President Joe Biden pardoned Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack to guard against potential “revenge” by the new administration.
Ninth grade is a critical year, with research indicating that freshman success is a strong predictor of whether students will graduate high school on time.
🏫 The Philadelphia School District has been working to improve the system’s four-year graduation rate — currently at 81% — via a “Ninth Grade Success Network.” Students at the 24 schools in the network receive extra resources like dedicated time with administrators and attendance improvement plans.
🏫 At Mastbaum High in Kensington, the program is making a difference: Last school year, 72% of ninth graders were deemed “on track” to graduate, up from 60% the year before.
Education reporter Kristen A. Graham explains how Philly is supporting its ninth graders.
What you should know today
A Democratic lawmaker from Allegheny County died over the weekend, leaving the state House of Representatives evenly split between two parties.
In her second term, Treasurer Stacy Garrity has vowed to tackle Pennsylvania’s unclaimed property problem — $2.96 billion in value across 21.68 million items.
Philadelphia’s police union wants to clamp down on what the public knows about how the department operates. With a shortage of cops, it may have leverage in its upcoming contract negotiations.
Philly has become an outlier in its rate of youth incarceration, an Inquirer investigation found, as cities across the country have worked to curb reliance on institutions rife with abuse. Read more takeaways from our report.
The Philadelphia Housing Authority purchased two student housing buildings in University City, with plans to convert them to affordable housing.
Thousands of resident physicians in Philly voted to unionize this month. Here’s what’s next for the area health systems’ new unions.
The region is likely to be one of most competitive housing markets in the country this year due to relative affordability and more demand than supply.
A local life sciences group says biomanufacturing has slowed as investors back AI over gene therapy, a shift evident in vacant lab space.
Delconians came dressed in their best tuxedos and tuxedo T-shirts to the premiere of Delco: The Movie at the Media Theatre. Columnist Stephanie Farr reported from the red carpet.
🧠 Trivia time
For its exhibition marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, the Museum of the American Revolution will display which object alongside the chair Thomas Jefferson used while drafting the document?
A) A British officer’s musket
B) Harriet Tubman’s silk shawl
C) A scrap of George Washington’s war tent
D) Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s prison bench
Think you know? Check your answer.
What (and who) we’re...
🏙️ Considering: These 12 Philadelphians’ ideas for East Market Street, sans Sixers arena.
💚 Impressed by: The Birds fan who has worn a different hat and jersey combo every day of the season — 137 and counting.
🫶 Heartened by: The “overwhelming” positive response to Pan-African Sisterhood Health Initiative’s pad-making project.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Jan. 29 begins the Year of the Snake
UNREAL YAWNER
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Billie Myers Meeks, who solved Sunday’s anagram: David Bowie. A record store owner accidentally discovered half-century-old Bowie master tapes recorded in Philly at an estate sale.
Photo of the day
🦅 One last celebratory thing: In tents and in bars Sunday, Eagles fans endured an agonizing and ultimately glorious battle against the Rams. Other winners include the dancing Gillie da Kid (and his giant hat), international supporters across four continents, and these wild, passionate, costumed tailgaters. Not celebrating: Josh Harris.
Thanks for catching up with The Inquirer. See you back here tomorrow.
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