Good morning, Philly.
We start with a tragic story about a woman who went missing in the Pine Barrens more than two years ago, and her stricken mother who’s been left with more questions than answers, and more fear than grief.
Read more Vanished in the Pine Barrens | Inquirer South Jersey
And, Philly bankers and builders are seeing a switch this summer: college, hospital, and apartment projects are out; data centers and military projects are in.
Plus, the Justice Department says the much-maligned Penrose Hotel in South Philly was part of a $100 million Ponzi scheme, and more news of the day.
— Tommy Rowan ([email protected])
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No good answers
Danielle Lopez disappeared in April 2024 while camping with her boyfriend in New Jersey’s Brendan T. Byrne State Forest — in the Pine Barrens.
Security cameras recorded her leaving a Burlington County Wawa not far from the couple’s camping ground on April 12, and she was later spotted walking alone along Lost Lane in Woodland Township.
And she hasn’t been seen since.
For millions of visitors, these Pine Barrens are full of folklore. For Sue Quackenbush, the pines feel ominous, a place to fear ever since her daughter disappeared.
Quackenbush, who has lost two other children, describes the last two-plus years as agonizing and torturous.
She believes people possess information about Lopez’a disappearance and is appealing for answers.
She’s looking for closure, which would help transform her terror into grief.
Read Jason Nark’s full report.
The pivot to data centers and military projects
Construction in the Philly area has slowed.
“Confidence is shaky in the construction industry,” one contractor told The Inquirer.
In past years, a commercial slowdown meant falling back on “eds and meds” — college, hospital, and drug-company jobs.
But federal funding cuts, combined with general confusion caused by shifting priorities under the Trump Administration, has left contractors asking an ominous question:
“What industry right now is doing great?”
Reporter Joseph DiStefano has the full story.
What you should know today
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Federal authorities say the owners of the Penrose Hotel in South Philly, which was derided by a reviewer as a “tower of terror,” have been accused of using chronically understaffed and underfunded hotels to fraudulently obtain loans as part of a $100 million Ponzi scheme.
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Philadelphia police released images of a suspect in the fatal shooting of an off-duty officer outside an after-hours nightclub in Southwest Philly during the weekend.
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Members of a Penn State drug ring, consisting of mostly alums, have been charged with trafficking cocaine through off-campus fraternity houses in State College between 2023 and 2024 and distributing it to classmates, according to the state attorney general’s office.
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Summer break ended Monday for 9,000 Philadelphia School District teachers, counselors, nurses, and others. Meanwhile, Kensington High School staff were rerouted to an old middle school more than seven miles away. They’re bracing for a “chaotic year.”
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Life sentences are no longer mandated for some murder convictions in Pennsylvania. Families and courts are waiting for answers from lawmakers.
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Seeking President Donald Trump’s support is a risky strategy in a swing state. And yet Stacy Garrity, who is challenging Josh Shapiro in the race for Pennsylvania governor, is doing it anyway.
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A 24-year-old Portuguese man was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for stealing more than $1 million in cryptocurrency from unwitting victims, including a resident of Montgomery County.
Quote of the day
Columnist Luis F. Carrasco argues in favor of talking to people you disagree with. Not only is it possible — he says it’s the whole point of politics.
🧠Trivia time
This Hulu crime dramedy set in Philadelphia (but filmed in Chicago) has been canceled after two seasons.
A) Bakery Bros
B) Food Dudes
C) Deli Boys
D) Two Guys
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re…
🍽️ Taking note of. For restaurant critic Craig LaBan, there is only one cleaver-swinging duck chef who has a legitimate claim to the title: “Chinatown’s Wizard of Ducks.” Sure, there are larger and better-known duck houses in the neighborhood. But this wizard’s cozy 20-seater, with no decorations on the walls, is LaBan’s vote for Philly’s best.
🎸 Following. Avalon will allow its bars to host outdoor live music until 9 p.m., which gives the shore-town venues an extra hour of revelry — despite objections from nearby residents.
📺 Reviewing. Veteran food reporter Michael Klein went and saw Tony, an “affectionate, funny, atmospheric, and beautifully acted” origin story of Anthony Bourdain. And Klein had some notes. While the film’s historical outline is true, Klein writes, the story Tony builds around it is considerably less so.
⚾ Considering. Is Alec Bohm a stud player? Probably not, says sports columnist Marcus Hayes. But Bohm does not stink, and if Phillies fans are wise, Hayes argues, they would choose to appreciate what they have in the 30-year-old infielder.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: A Wawa customer said this new menu item tastes like a “World Series win with a sprinkling of Mets’ tears.”
ANAHEIM SHOT TOPIC
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Valerie A. Metzler, who correctly guessed Monday’s answer: Subaru Park. The Union’s home field is where the Maryland Charm beat the California Palms, 16-13, to claim the first-ever Women’s Lacrosse League championship.
Photo of the day
And we end today with a reflection of —mercifully — stilled banners. Tuesday’s forecast calls for clear skies, reasonable temperatures, mild winds, and rain chances in single digits. Enjoy it while it lasts.
👋 Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. Laura Benshoff, our new Morning Newsletter shepherd, will write her first edition tomorrow. Be nice to her.
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