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🏭 A legal fight over coal mining | Morning Newsletter

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🏭 A legal fight over coal mining | Morning Newsletter


Welcome to April, Philly! What’s that old saying, “April showers bring May flowers?” Well, we’re looking at the possibility of some showers today, and the temperature will be near 80.

A legal fight over coal mining in southwestern Pennsylvania is brewing. An environmental group’s efforts to restore state land is running up against an industry that isn’t done digging up fossil fuels.

And get ready for a busy month in Philly’s restaurant scene. We have new restaurants opening, the return of a former city staple, and James Beard Award nominees.

Plus, a judge ruled that Penn must release the names of people affiliated with campus Jewish organizations to the Trump administration, and more news of the day.

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— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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A fight over Gov. Josh Shapiro’s energy policies is playing out. The dispute started in 2024, when activists petitioned regulators to preemptively declare 11,000 acres off-limits for mining.

That threatened to undermine expansion plans by a major Pennsylvania coal company. The firm’s affiliates have received tens of millions of dollars in state subsidies. And the owners are also major campaign donors to Shapiro and state Republican lawmakers.

The coal company lobbied the state to reject the mining restriction. After consulting Shapiro’s office, environmental regulators did just that.

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But that rejection spurred litigation — and the documents from that dispute now offer a window into how Shapiro is navigating energy politics in a major fossil fuel-producing state ahead of a possible 2028 presidential campaign.

This is no April Fool’s joke, Philly. The city’s restaurant scene is busy this month.

🏅There are seven Philly finalists for the 2026 James Beard Foundation Awards. Michelin-recommended Thai restaurant Kalaya and Italian bakery and café Fiore are some names on the list.

🍲 Several new restaurants are slated to open this month, from pizza places to a Vietnamese-Cajun-inspired spot, Carolyn’s Modern Vietnamese.

🍺 Plus, an old classic is making a comeback. Iron Hill Brewery, which closed all locations and filed for bankruptcy last year, is set to return to Market East.

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What you should know today

  1. The University of Pennsylvania must release lists of people affiliated with Jewish organizations on its campus, a federal court judge ruled on Tuesday. Penn had argued that releasing the information would put employees at risk.

  2. Convicted former labor leader John J. Dougherty will be permitted to hold a hearing about his request to have his prison term cut short to care for his gravely ill wife.

  3. Parkside Borough Council President Dominic Capobianco used a borough-issued gas card to fill up his personal vehicle, and his wife’s, stealing $2,500 from the tiny Delaware County town, according to the DA.

  4. A Kensington elementary school parent has accused the Philadelphia School District of unfairly foisting a school closure, despite it not being on the list of 18 schools facing shutdown.

  5. Philly’s government is slowly rebuilding its workforce after the COVID-19 pandemic, with officials saying the number of unfilled jobs is at its lowest point in several years.

  6. Gov. Josh Shapiro hosted an official statewide pep rally ahead of Pennsylvania’s major celebrations and sporting events this summer, like the nation’s 250th and the FIFA World Cup.

  7. Uber is expanding its program that offers free and discounted rides to seniors to Northeast Philadelphia through KleinLife.

Quote of the day

Visa and Bank of America are transforming a Fishtown park into a hub for community soccer matches and development in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup in Philadelphia. Visa and Bank of America will open the Visa Street Soccer Park at 1036 N. Front St., a refurbishment of Fishtown’s Tiptop Playground.

🧠 Trivia time

Which former Eagle and podcaster will do on-course reporting during the popular golf event, the Masters Par 3 Contest?

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A) Donovan McNabb

B) Nick Foles

C) John Middlekauff

D) Jason Kelce

Think you know? Check your answer.

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What we’re …

🏡 Admiring: A renovated three-bedroom home in Roxborough with an updated kitchen and an electric-vehicle charging station.

Wondering: Can the U.S. soccer team play in Philadelphia at the World Cup? The answer is: It’s complicated.

🏢 Keeping an eye on: SEPTA is seeking apartment development near its Regional Rail stations.

🌱 Sniffling about: Sneezin’ season is back. Expect a tree-pollen bonanza as temperatures rise this week.

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🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This new city-sponsored initiative will focus on turning East Passyunk, Center City, and West Philly into live music destinations.

ELVIN SIGHT WEEK

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to James O’Connor, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Strathmere.

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The lifeguard headquarters house in the Cape May County community was demolished over the weekend when local officials deemed it too dangerous after a year of extreme weather left the beach eroded.

Photo of the day

That’s all for today, folks! Enjoy the first day of April and I’ll be back soon. 👋

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.



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Pennsylvania

Mid Valley students tour Pennsylvania American Water treatment plant

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Mid Valley students tour Pennsylvania American Water treatment plant


The Mid Valley students also were given the opportunity to design their own water treatment models using various items at the exhibit. (Submitted)

Mid Valley sixth, seventh and eighth grade students toured the Pennsylvania American Water treatment plant near Lake Scranton. They were given a detailed presentation about the water treatment process that they perform daily.

They also were given the opportunity to design their own water treatment models using various items at the exhibit. Students got a behind-the-scenes look at all the different occupations at Pennsylvania American Water Company that many were unaware of.



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Pennsylvania

David A. Mansel, West Middlesex, PA

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David A. Mansel, West Middlesex, PA


WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. (MyValleyTributes) – David Armond Mansel, aged 89, passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Born and raised in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, on August 8, 1936, David resided in Transfer, Pennsylvania. He was deeply rooted in his faith in God.

He served in the Army in Germany in the 1960s and worked construction for many years. He was proud of his roots on his family’s farm.

David, who was known to many as Uncle Dave, loved to dance and spend time on his boat cruising the Shenango Reservoir. His friendly, outgoing personality helped him to meet people wherever he went, especially on the dance floor. He loved to teach people how to dance the jitter bug (among other dances) in his favorite zoot suit, hat and black and white dance shoes. He was also often seen on one of his many vehicles, like his Mustang convertible, CanAm, or Segway.

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He is survived by his brother, James; his sister and brother-in-law, Denise and Skip Wentz; his sister-in-law, Gloria Mansel; his aunt, Nancy Sabella and his special nieces and nephews who spent a lot of time with him in his later years, Lisa and Jim Blair, Nicole and Brian Serafin, Terry Thompson and Darrell and Jeanie Thompson. He also leaves many more nieces, nephews and cousins and his extended Italian American family.

David was predeceased by his children, Darcy, in 1988 and Wade, 2024. He was also predeceased by his parents, Michael and Clara Mansel; his brother, Leonard and sister, Esther Thompson.

A celebration to remember David will be announced at a later time.

Arrangements handled by John Flynn Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc.

Messages of sympathy, stories and photos can be shared on David’s memorial page, at: www.flynnfuneralhome.com.

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To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David A. Mansel, please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Thursday, April 23 at the following approximate times: 7:10 a.m. on FOX, 12:22 p.m. on WKBN, 5:08 p.m. on MyYTV and 7:27 p.m. on WYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.



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Sen. John Fetterman receives no support for re-election from Pennsylvania House Democrats: report

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Sen. John Fetterman receives no support for re-election from Pennsylvania House Democrats: report


Pennsylvania Democrats are reluctant to support Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., for re-election, according to a new report.

Punchbowl News spoke to several Pennsylvania congressional members on Monday about whether they’d be willing to endorse Fetterman for another term in 2028 despite the backlash he’s been facing for opposing the Democratic Party.

“Want a sense of how tenuous Sen. John Fetterman’s (D-Pa.) position is with Pennsylvania Democrats? Not a single Pennsylvania House Democrat in the delegation will say Fetterman should run for re-election as a Democrat,” the report said.

Though the House members did not explicitly reject the idea of Fetterman running again, they avoided answering whether they believed Fetterman should seek a second term as a Democrat, often focusing instead on the 2026 midterm elections.

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“My focus right now is on 2026, but I would just say I’d be very surprised if he ran in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate,” Rep. Brendan Boyle said.

Rep. Chris Deluzio also answered that he would see what happens after 2026, though Punchbowl News acknowledged both he and Boyle are rumored to be launching their own Senate bids in 2028.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon added that she was interested in “getting through 2026 first.”

“I’ll hold my tongue so I don’t get in trouble,” Scanlon said.

Rep. Summer Lee told Punchbowl News the decision was “up to him” whether Fetterman should run, though she added that he would do so “at his own peril.”

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Sen. John Fetterman has received no support from Pennsylvania Democrats for his re-election bid. WILL OLIVER/EPA/Shutterstock

Others were more vocal about their disagreements with Fetterman, though they stopped short of rejecting the idea of Fetterman running again.

“My concern is entirely about him and his health, and I’ll let 2028 take care of itself,” Rep. Madeleine Dean said.

“I disagree with many of his votes.”


Senator John Fetterman, wearing a black hoodie, speaks to reporters who are holding up cell phones to record him.
Several House members didn’t directly comment on whether Fetterman should seek a second term and instead turned their attention to the 2026 midterm elections. AP

“It’s no secret that I’ve been disappointed with some of his votes and that I’m confused by it,” Rep. Chrissy Houlahan added.

“But I’m not responsible for deciding whether he runs again.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Fetterman’s office and the other Pennsylvania Democrats mentioned in the report for comment.

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Fetterman has publicly spoken out against his party on several issues, particularly its growing hostility against Israel.

The Pennsylvania senator has also supported President Donald Trump in his ongoing war against Iran and strict border policies.

Though strategists have suggested Fetterman could switch parties because of his bipartisan stance, he previously ruled out leaving the Democratic Party last year.

“I’m not going to switch. I’m just going to be an independent voice in the Democratic Party. I’m not going to be afraid of people,” Fetterman said.

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