Good morning, Philly. Make sure to pack your umbrella.
Amid a poor start to the Phillies’ season, which carried sky-high expectations, the team made big changes in leadership to try and invigorate a team full of high-profile and extremely well-paid ballplayers.
And Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal told City Council members on Tuesday that she needs a much bigger budget.
Plus, a judge intervened in a personnel spat in the district attorney’s office, and more news of the day.
— Tommy Rowan
(morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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In just under four seasons, manager Rob “Topper” Thomson amassed the highest winning percentage in Phillies history.
But with a slow start to this season, with its sky-high expectations and extremely high payroll, ownership had to do something.
And, so, Topper had to go, replaced by bench coach Don Mattingly, who was named interim manager.
“I probably wouldn’t have fired him,” writes columnist Marcus Hayes, “but president Dave Dombrowski had to do something, and owner John Middleton adores Dombrowski, so Dealin’ Dave wasn’t going anywhere. It had to be Topper. But his retreat to the Great White North won’t answer the questions left in his wake.”
⚾ Phillie leaders expressed love for Thomson, including catcher J.T. Realmuto, who said: “We all feel responsible for what happened to him. We know that we’re the ones on the field not doing our job.”
⚾ Fans, media, and a former Phillies general manager reacted to the firing with mixed emotions. And many critics, including columnist Hayes, are pointing the finger at the front office.
⚾ To his credit, Thomson said that while his managing days are over, he would still be open to a role in the Phillies organization in the future.
⚾ But looking forward, what do we know about the new skipper? Don Mattingly is a former MVP with the Yankees and the father of Phillies GM Preston Mattingly. Get to know “Donnie Baseball.”
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s latest budget proposal includes essentially no new funding for the sheriff’s office.
But on Tuesday, Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal told City Council members that she needed a much bigger budget.
Specifically, a 54% increase over her office’s current budget of $35.5 million.
“We need staffing,” Bilal said. “We need funding.”
That is the largest requested funding bump, percentagewise, of any department in the city this year.
What you should know today
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The homicide unit in the Philly District Attorney’s Office has been mired in conflict and left without a chief after a monthslong internal dispute escalated into an unusual and questionable intervention by a sitting judge, people familiar with the matter say.
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Lehigh County asked an ICE operation to leave its property over a rent dispute. Some say the move hurts human trafficking investigations.
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A federal appeals court ruled against the policy of President Donald Trump’s administration to mandate detention for nearly all undocumented immigrants encountered by federal authorities. The decision will almost certainly send the controversial matter to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Considering how few houses go on the market in Kennett Square, leaders want to limit how many houses can become Airbnbs.
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A 17-year-old Philadelphia girl who police say stabbed her newborn daughter to death with a pair of scissors has been charged with voluntary manslaughter, authorities said.
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A Kensington elementary school was blindsided by recent changes to Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr.’s facilities master plan — and parents and teachers say they have been left with little time to absorb and organize around changes they say could harm their community.
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The Trump administration is launching an early review of Disney’s broadcast television licenses, which includes 6abc (WPVI) in Philadelphia. It comes after President Donald Trump called for ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired over a joke he made Thursday night involving first lady Melania Trump.
Quote of the day
In its annual State of Center City report, Philly’s downtown boosters were bullish on where things stand. Highlights included a booming residential population, a strong job market, and a solid office-occupancy rate. The report also addressed a few gloomy items, including a rising homeless population and sagging foot traffic.
🧠 Trivia time
This neighborhood’s pizza scene is growing fast thanks to two new openings and a third on the way.
A) Swampoodle
B) Fox Chase
C) Passyunk Square
D) Fishtown
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re…
🎭 Remembering: The last of a “dying breed” of unique Walnut Street creators closed up shop 28 years ago this week, ending an era of unmatched creativity in Philly history.
🍧 Bookmarking: In Philly, there are places for water ice, and there are places where you ought to order a gelati. And we’re here to help. Check out our handy guide to the best water ice and gelati in Philadelphia and the suburbs.
🖼️ Marveling over: For nearly a century, a painting considered to be a modern masterpiece lived in obscurity in Philadelphia. Its recent finding has been dubbed “the rediscovery of the century.”
🍖 Considering: In the tiny hamlet of Colmar in Montgomery County, restaurant critic Craig LaBan says a Harvard-educated pit master is cooking up some of the area’s best brisket.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: This Philly chess player recently ended a game-show contestant’s historic winning streak.
DAG ASH HEGER
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Maryellen Glackin, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Long Bright River. Best-selling author Liz Moore recently joined podcast host Kylie Kelce for a conversation about women in sports. Moore’s acclaimed 2020 crime novel, Long Bright River, was set in Philadelphia during the opioid crisis.
Photo of the day
It may be a long summer.
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