Ending cash bail in Philly, new school board nominees, more bike lanes for Center City | Morning Newsletter

Street safety advocates got a pleasant surprise Saturday as Mayor Kenney announced a new plan for reducing traffic in Center City, including adding protected bike lanes on JFK Boulevard and Market Street.

Another explosion in Austin, Texas injured 2 people Sunday night. It was the fourth explosion to rock the city in less than three weeks; the first three were package bombs delivered to residents' doorsteps. The Roots' Saturday event at Austin's South by Southwest conference and festival was canceled due to a bomb threat, and a suspect is in custody.

President Trump spent the weekend lashing out at special counsel Robert Mueller again over the continuing Russia investigation. Today he'll be announcing a plan to combat opioid addiction nationwide today. It includes seeking the death penalty for drug traffickers.

I'm sorry to hear about your bracket. This weekend put the "mad" in March Madness for many a viewer, but No. 1 seed Villanova is still in the game. They play West Virginia this Friday. Villanova's women's team lost in the second round of their tournament yesterday.

The Pennsylvania Republican Party isn't ready to give up the 18th District special election just yet. It's asking the Department of State to investigate "a number of irregularities" it claims affected voting.

The president of the Philadelphia NAACP has a new idea for where Temple University can build its football stadium: Rittenhouse Square.

Spring break wasn't all parties at Penn. Students and alumni spent the time coordinating an effort to bring down law professor Amy Wax.

Early CDC data on drug overdose deaths from last year show declines in 14 states — but in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, rates have skyrocketed. Meanwhile, a new diversion program allowing police to connect people with addiction to social services is expanding.

Looking to repent for your parking sins? The Philadelphia Parking Authority started an amnesty program for unpaid tickets at the beginning of the month. And it ends April 30.

The 16-year-old Allentown girl who went missing earlier this month and was found in Mexico with a 45-year-old man is home and the man is in custody.

The District Attorney's office is planning to all but drop the case against the activist accused of defacing the Frank Rizzo statue last year. In other Rizzo public art news, Mural Arts is seeking public feedback on what to do with the Italian Market mural of the former mayor.

The Old City fire that ravaged the 200 block of Chestnut Street is still causing significant problems for its restaurant neighbors.

The FBI has set up a digging site in Elk County possibly to hunt for buried Civil War treasure. Yes, really.

An ice cream battle is brewing over who will get to peddle treats this year on the beaches of Ventnor. For the ice cream's sake, let's hope it doesn't get too heated.

Being the change you wish to see in the world: Drexel medical students are starting a mentoring network to address the shortage of black doctors.

The Eagles are on the move this offseason. They released Vinny Curry over the weekend to gain salary cap space and re-signed Nigel Bradham to a five-year contract.

The Jersey Shore cast is back with a new show, and now there's a trailer previewing all the…fun? Sadly (or thankfully, depending on who you ask), it was not filmed at the Jersey shore.

Decorated chef Chris Painter has been ousted from noted Fishtown restaurant Wm. Mulherin's Sons after being suspended over sexual harassment allegations.

Crate & Barrel fans, get ready to shop. The home goods store is producing a line of products designed by Philly public school students.

Emergency medicine physician Gregory Siegel has seen a lot of trauma, but it's the victims of gun violence — and lawmakers' inaction to stop it — that most often keep him up at night.

As columnist Mike Newall points out, there's something strange about the project renderings plastered outside the to-be-revamped Gallery at Market East: they're full of only white people.

Try to resist a peek behind the scenes of the Fitler Club, a new private social club opening in Center City that lists Julie and Zach Ertz as investors and has chef Kevin Sbraga on the payroll, via Philadelphia Magazine.

Another installment of WHYY's excellent series on gentrification in Philadelphia focuses on East Germantown, where black residents say they're gentrifying the neighborhood on their terms.

A Billy Penn reporter took the Erin Express on St. Patrick's Day, her first time celebrating the holiday while of legal drinking age. You can bet it was an adventure.

Over the weekend The Guardian dropped a multi-story report on what they're terming a massive data breach at Facebook, wherein research firm Cambridge Analytica (once led by Steve Bannon) used your "likes" to influence American voters. It's a must-read.

Philly, like many big cities, is seeing a boom in boutique fitness studios. But, as the Washington Post reports, their cult followings can be unwelcoming to people of color and those who aren't young and lithe.