Philadelphia Inquirer

Good morning. It’s Friday, May 3rd. Philadelphia police discovered new leads in dozens of rape cases previously considered unsolved. Investigators tested a huge backlog of more than fifteen-hundred previously untested rape kits. City officials say it’s resulted in as many as 65 cases that may be impacted by the discovered DNA evidence. Some of the kits were initially collected as long ago as the 1980’s and 90’s.

The former Temple University business school dean is planning to file a twenty-five-million dollar defamation lawsuit against the University and its president. Temple removed long-time dean Moshe Porat [MO-shay Pour-AT] in July following a ranking scandal that rocked the Fox School of Business. Falsified data about the school’s online M.B.A. program was used to secure a top spot on the U.S. News and World Report list for four years in a row.

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, May 1st. Philly voters could give City Council the power to change or repeal the city’s controversial soda tax. Even though the tax is viewed as Mayor Jim Kenney’s signature achievement, its future is likely to be determined by how Philadelphians vote in the Council races in the upcoming primary. The Inquirer did some polling of candidates and voters to get their opinion on the tax.

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, April 30th. A lion statue was smashed outside a Chinatown school; now it’s being investigated as a possible hate crime. The Chinese lion statue was shoved off its base outside the Folk Arts Cultural Treasures School, near 11th and Callowhill streets. The school grew out of a movement to help the under-served Chinese community; it now helps Asian American students as well as immigrant and refugee students of many races.

Good morning. It’s Monday, April 29th. Crime, poverty, and education have long been seen as Philadelphia’s toughest problems to solve. And a new Inquirer poll confirms that the issues are top of mind for voters. The poll, conducted by SurveyUSA, collected opinions from 865 registered Philadelphia voters about how the city is being run, shedding light on what voters are thinking ahead of the May primary.

Good morning. It’s Friday, April 26th Former Vice President Joe Biden has officially joined the 2020 presidential race. The former Delaware Senator is widely considered the Democrats’ best chance to win back the White House from President Donald Trump. In his announcement, Biden said America is in “a battle for the soul of this nation.” This will be his third White House bid: He also campaigned in 1988 and 2008.

Good morning. It’s Thursday, April 25th. Almost 40 percent of Philadelphia residents drink bottled water at home. Frankly, Philly tap water has a bad rep: many think it isn’t safe or doesn’t taste good. A survey found there are a lot of reasons why people prefer bottled water. Some say it’s more convenient; others point to news reports from other parts of the U.S. about poor water quality.

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, April 24th. Joe Biden is running for president — as of tomorrow. Sources told the Inquirer that the former vice president will launch his 2020 campaign Thursday with a video. He’ll then campaign Monday in Pittsburgh. Before being Barack Obama’s veep, Biden spent decades as a Delaware senator and was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The democrat enters a crowded primary as the leader in public polling.

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, April 23rd. The Philadelphia 76ers have a chance to advance in the NBA playoffs tonight. After losing to the Brooklyn Nets in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, the Sixers have come back to win three games in a row. The Sixers say they’re expecting a desperate opponent in what could be the Nets’ final game of the season.

Good morning. It’s Monday, April 22nd. The Flyers removed the Kate Smith statue from outside Xfinity Live on Sunday, citing the late singer’s racist lyrics in songs she performed in the 1930s. The Flyers traditionally played Smith’s rendition of “God Bless America,” but will stop doing so. Many Flyers fans considered it a good luck charm.