The FBI ‘bug’ that upended an election | Morning Newsletter
And how to crack a multimillion-dollar catalytic converter theft ring.
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The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Welcome to the start of a new week. Soak up the sun, but opt for a light jacket. Temps will reach the low 60s.
We’ll find out for certain who will be Philadelphia’s next mayor next month but the odds-on favorite to win is Democratic nominee Cherelle Parker.
Today, I want to turn back the clock to 2003 — the last time there was a competitive race for mayor.
Twenty years ago, Philadelphia Mayor John Street’s administration found an FBI bug in his office. New interviews with then-challenger Republican Sam Katz and others involved give a fresh look at the discovery and how the political spin unfolded behind the scenes.
— Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Exactly four weeks before the 2003 general election for Philly mayor, John Street’s administration found the FBI listening device in the ceiling above his desk on Oct. 7, 2003.
The last competitive general election for mayor was suddenly nationalized.
Republicans hoped the bug that revealed a secret federal investigation into Street’s administration would push Republican nominee Sam Katz to victory. Street had narrowly defeated Katz four years earlier.
Meanwhile, Democratic Party leaders like then-U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and former Vice President Al Gore rushed to Philadelphia to vouch for Street. Some accused Republican George W. Bush of allowing his Department of Justice to interfere in a local election.
The result: The election interference message came out on top as Street secured his reelection.
Continue reading to discover how the political strategy was crafted behind the scenes.
Authorities say a multimillion-dollar catalytic converter theft ring ran out of a Northeast Philadelphia tow yard that stole, sold, purchased, and resold catalytic converters.
Michael Williams, the operator of TDI Towing in Port Richmond, and a cadre of associates stole at least 2,000 of the valuable car parts throughout Bucks County and beyond between 2020 and 2023, according to prosecutors.
Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub dubbed Williams the “kingpin” of the operation that was spending a minimum of $10,000 per night on stolen converters.
The yearlong investigation included surveillance, undercover transactions, and high-speed car chases.
Read more to find out how the takedown unfolded.
What you should know today
University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill said in a statement that Penn “should have moved faster” to share its position opposing some speakers appearing at the Palestine Writes festival held on campus last month. The email comes a day after Jon Huntsman Jr., former governor of Utah and former U.S. ambassador to Russia, China, and Singapore, said his family’s foundation would halt donations.
Medics in Gaza warned Sunday that thousands could die as supplies run low at hospitals packed with wounded people ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive.
Bakers and baristas at Vibrant Coffee Roasters in Rittenhouse Square want to unionize.
The United States Department of Agriculture registered animal welfare violations at Media’s Linvilla Orchards.
Police warned a witchcraft shop in rural Pennsylvania that fortune-telling is illegal in the state.
It seems like Temple’s Hooter and Villanova’s Wildcat are highly sought-after wedding guests. Couples or their loved ones can typically pay hundreds of dollars an hour for mascots to crash the party.
The Center City District is the new tenant in the former A.C. Moore building on South Broad Street.
🧠 Trivia time
Jason Kelce broke the Eagles’ record for consecutive regular-season starts,
How many is that in total including the Eagles’ first series on Sunday against the New York Jets?
A) 150
B) 145
C) 142
D) 130
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🥯 Craving: A sausage, egg, and cheese from Knead Bagels.
🍿Watching: Last night’s reunion show of Season 5 of Love is Blind.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram 🧩
Hint: Temple’s live mascot
ALL WHO SETTLE
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Tom Gowan, who correctly guessed Sunday’s answer: Edgar Allan Poe.
Photo of the day
And that’s all I have for you this morning. I’ll catch you tomorrow 👋🏽