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.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

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.

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.

What you should know today

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?

A) Donovan McNabb

B) Nick Foles

C) John Middlekauff

D) Jason Kelce

Think you know? Check your answer.

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.

🧩 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.

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.

The countdown continues in the Delaware Valley for 2026’s major milestones, including the PGA Championship, FIFA World Cup and MLB All-Star Game week. CBS News Philadelphia’s Nikki DeMentri was at a pep rally Tuesday getting everyone ready for the fun.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Pennsylvania once again is leading the nation in fire-related deaths, and a deadly weekend across the commonwealth has pushed the toll to at least 32 so far this year.

Last month, preliminary data from the U.S. Fire Administration showed Pennsylvania already had recorded 26 civilian fire deaths — more than any other state at the time, outpacing larger states such as Texas and New York.

In the weeks since, fatal fires have continued at a steady and troubling pace.

Over the weekend alone, at least five additional people died in fires in different parts of the state, and one succumbed from injuries from a house fire several weeks ago:

A man also died from injuries following a March 14 house fire in Freeland, Luzerne County.

Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio identified the victim as Richard Leepin, 55, of Freeland.

Leepin was pronounced dead at 8:20 p.m. March 27 at Lehigh Valley-Hospital-Cedar Crest.

Monday morning, Buglio said the cause of death was determined to be complications of thermal injuries and inhalation of products of combustion from a house fire.

It was the second fire-related fatality handled by the coroner’s office this year, Buglio said.

‘Number one the last three years running’

The weekend deaths pushed Pennsylvania’s total past 30 before the end of March — a pace that has raised concern among fire officials and safety advocates.

The state has struggled for years with a disproportionately high number of fatal fires.

“Pennsylvania has been number one the last three years running in civilian fire death numbers in the nation,” state Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook said at a House Appropriations Committee budget hearing last month.

“To me, that’s not something to be proud of.”

Pennsylvania had 131 fire deaths in 2025, and early numbers suggest 2026 could follow a similar trajectory.

Fire experts point to a combination of structural and demographic factors driving the trend.

Much of the state’s housing stock is older, particularly in legacy cities and boroughs. Older homes are more likely to have outdated wiring, aging heating systems and fewer built-in fire safety features.

In many cases, homes were not originally constructed with modern fire codes in mind.

At the same time, officials say the state’s older population can face greater challenges escaping quickly once a fire starts.

Modern fire behavior also is playing a role.

Today’s homes, filled with synthetic furnishings and open floor plans, can burn significantly faster than older homes furnished with natural materials, officials say.

Experts say fires can reach flashover conditions in a matter of minutes, leaving little time to escape.

There also is increasing attention on emerging hazards such as lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly found in everyday devices and can ignite under certain conditions.

Homes lack smoke alarms

Despite those evolving risks, fire officials stress that many deaths remain preventable.

Working smoke alarms are consistently cited as the single most effective tool in reducing fire fatalities.

However, officials say a significant number of deadly fires still occur in homes without functioning alarms.

Other common issues include overloaded electrical systems, improper use of space heaters and cooking-related fires — all of which can escalate quickly without early detection.

According to the USFA, national estimates for the leading cause of residential building fires show cooking fires at the top of the list.

Fires ruled as “unintentional” or “careless” also are a leading cause, along with heating fires or those attributed to “electrical malfunction.”

The recent string of fatal fires across Pennsylvania highlights how widespread the issue remains, cutting across urban, suburban and rural communities.

Fire officials continue to urge residents to take basic precautions such as installing and regularly checking smoke alarms, planning escape routes and addressing potential hazards inside the home.

Through the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, volunteers have worked with local fire departments and community partners to install more than 3.1 million free smoke alarms across the country.

Residents needing assistance can visit redcross.org/greaterpa for free smoke alarm installation.