Good morning, Philly! 👋 Expect a warm one today with highs in the mid-80s, but don’t forget the umbrella. ☂️ Be prepared for some rain and possible thunderstorms.
Read more House of the week: A three-bedroom rowhouse in Fairmount for $645,000
Freedom Fuel gas stations are eyeing expansion, according to the company’s website. But the Philadelphia-area network of gas stations no longer appears to be selling fuel at the deep discount originally linked to the president.
Did you know the Delaware River is home to over 100 islands? Some are large with historic significance, and others are more like sandbars. We’ll help you fly over the river and check them all out.
Plus, Delco officials are investigating a racist voicemail threatening the county sheriff, and more news of the day.
— Sam Stewart ([email protected])
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Freedom Fuel eyes expansion as prices rise
Even the Freedom Fuel Network, promoted by President Donald Trump, isn’t immune to rising gas prices. Yet, the Philadelphia-area network of gas stations is expanding anyway, according to the company’s website.
The enterprise, made up of 25 stations spread across the region, garnered national attention when it began selling regular gas for $3.47 a gallon — a nod to Trump, and 40 to 50 cents cheaper than other stations.
Despite the White House’s involvement in promoting Freedom Fuel, a spokesperson said the company received no government subsidies nor obtained fuel at a lower cost. The below-market prices would exist “for as long as the company chooses.” If that’s the case, the business itself was already absorbing dramatic losses before the United States resumed attacks on Iran, leading to a jump in gas prices over the past week.
Still, the people behind Freedom Fuel are looking at expansion. The website did not give a timeline for when those additional stations could come online.
🏝️ Cruising up the Delaware
The Delaware River flows 330 miles from Delaware to New York, harboring roughly 123 islands as it carves a ragged border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Some islands are mere shoals or sandbars, while others span hundreds of acres. Some are no longer true islands after reattaching to mainland via nature or human engineering.
🏝️ Pea Patch Island, for example, is owned by Delaware and is 225 acres large. It is home to Fort Delaware, which served as a camp for up to 10,000 Confederate POWs at a time during the Civil War. The island stopped being manned after World War II, and today, it’s a state park.
🏝️ Little Tinicum Island,on the other hand, is only 80 acres in size and is owned by Pennsylvania. There’s a primitive campground accessible by boat and a wildlife viewing area. The island is home to a variety of birds.
The Inquirer can help you tour the other islands of the Delaware River.
What you should know today
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Delaware County detectives are investigating a racist, threatening voicemail left for county Sheriff Siddiq Kamara, officials said Monday. The caller, whom police are working to identify, used a racial slur to refer to Kamara, who is Black, and called for “death to Islam.”
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A Bucks County sheriff’s deputy used his personal cell phone to take naked pictures of two people he encountered as part of his job, including a mentally ill man at whose home he was serving a search warrant, prosecutors said.
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An incendiary device was deployed Monday morning outside a New York City federal building and officials have taken a person into custody, the FBI said.
Read more Tour Jersey’s islands on the Delaware | Inquirer South Jersey
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Pennsylvania and New Jersey are among the 27 states seeing recalls of shredded lettuce products sourced to Taylor Farms, the produce company at the center of a food safety investigation into an outbreak of “explosive” diarrhea caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.
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Delaware reported Monday the state’s first case of measles in more than 10 years. The case was identified in an unvaccinated man in central Delaware, health officials said in a news release.
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Drivers should expect backups and delays near Amtrak’s 30th Street Station as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation carries out roadwork nearby in the coming month.
Quote of the day
More than 400 people have already applied for just 20 spots in the city’s first-ever parallel parking competition, the 2026 Philadelphia Parallel Parking Association Championship. Judges will score each contestant on a 10-point scale based on speed, competency, proximity to the curb, and flair.
🧠Trivia time
Which alumni will present a new Villanova University-created award in their name that recognizes outstanding leadership in sustainability?
A) Jill Biden
B) Jalen Brunson
C) Pope Leo XIV
D) Maria Bello
Think you know? Check your answer.
What (and whom) we’re …
🦅 Learning about: Some new additions to the Eagles! Get to know cornerback Riq Woolen and wide receiver Erik Ezukanma.
🍧 Celebrating: Two Philly water ice shops claimed the top spots at Ocean Casino Resort’s first ever water ice festival.
⚾ Excited to see: The 1939 throwback uniforms the Phillies are expected to wear during the Field of Dreams Game in August.
🎓 Admiring: Pennsylvania’s 10 state universities will consider offering some three-year bachelor’s degrees. It’s a way to make college more affordable and allow students to get into the workforce more quickly.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Contemporary circus group 🎪
CIRO QUILL SUEDE
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Annette Lofft, who solved Monday’s anagram: Longwood Gardens. A couple celebrated their gender reveal with a dazzling light show at the gardens over the weekend.
Photo of the day
⚽ Oh, and one last thing: Columnist Kerith Gabriel considers how our country can push U.S. soccer further. He believes it starts with children and their parents.
Have a good day, everyone! 👋 I’ll be back in your inboxes next week.
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