Good morning, Philly.
Today, slot machine-like āskill gamesā are officially illegal in Pennsylvania. Weāre covering what that means, and we take you back in time to when a different kiosk game was a gambling scourge ā pinball.
Read more š 19 ways to embrace autumn | Inquirer South Jersey
And, weāve got your validation for the day: Yes, Philly IS in fact the worst U.S. city to drive in, according to a new survey.
Plus, The Inquirer obtained documents showing how another murder case against Eric Lewis fell apart years before he allegedly shot and killed a police officer, and more news of the day.
ā Laura Benshoff ([email protected])
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
Pinball police
In the early 1940s, restaurants and bars in Philly were under surveillance by police.
They were looking for pinball machines.
The machines of that era were spiced up with āelectrical contrivances and gadgetsā that turned them into āgambling devices,ā wrote judges on the Pennsylvania Superior Court in 1942. Unlike todayās pinball, these machines had no flippers to control where the ball went, so the score was essentially chance.
Eventually, the stateās highest court banned some of the devices. In a decision this summer regulating slot machine-like āskill games,ā Pennsylvaniaās Supreme Court justices cited their predecessorsā decision on pinball.
Read on for civil courts reporter Abraham Gutmanās full archive dive.
And, wondering how todayās ban on āskill gamesā could be enforced? We got you.
Driver woes
Dead last.
Thatās where Philadelphia ranked among the 100 most populous U.S. cities when it comes to ādriver-friendliness,ā according to a WalletHub survey.
Now, that metric wasnāt based on how often drivers cut one another off or lean on their horns. Instead, things like gas prices, time spent in traffic, and the likelihood of getting into a crash were all factors.
Here are some ways Philly stood out, for the worse:
ā³ 101 hours: How long, on average, Philly drivers spent sitting in traffic jams in 2025.
šø $263: The average monthly car insurance premium in the city.
š 95th: Phillyās accident likelihood ranking, out of 100.
The Inquirerās Erin McCarthy has the full story.
What you should know today
-
Eric Lewis, the man accused of killing Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber, was acquitted of another slaying in 2023 because police botched the case, District Attorney Larry Krasner said Tuesday.
-
A prominent Main Line restaurateur has been charged with unlawfully sharing intimate photos of his ex-girlfriend with her new boyfriend.
-
Only in Philly could a Democratic midterms fundraiser feature the governor, a former president, and the Eaglesā head of security, āBig Dom,ā as one did this week.
-
In more midterm news, Elon Muskās super PAC is spending $1.4 million to support the GOP candidates in three Pennsylvania congressional races.
-
More than four in five New Jerseyans said they support or strongly support voter ID requirements like presenting a driverās license or state ID, a new poll has found.
Read more Celebrate the season with these fall events across South Jersey
-
Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery that confirmed he has lung cancer, the Vatican said Tuesday, the day an award bearing his name was presented in Italy by Villanova University president the Rev. Peter M. Donohue.
-
$837 million in public and private funds will be invested in the Port of Philadelphia, and the number of jobs there will nearly double, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Tuesday.
Quote of the day
The Inquirerās Al Lubrano traveled to central Pennsylvania to hear from voters weighing whether to reelect incumbent Republican congressman Scott Perry, or to endorse his Democratic challenger, former TV anchor Janelle Stelson, in a close contest.
š§ Trivia time
Someone with the name āLeBron J.ā got DoorDash from San Kee Peking Duck House in Chinatown on Sunday. The restaurant promptly took to social media to share āTHE KING HAS SPOKEN šā with a picture of the receipt. What was the order?
A) Roasted duck
B) Shrimp fried rice
C) Beef chow fun
D) Wonton soup
Think you know? Check your answer.
What weāre …
šļø Scouting. Messina Social Club, a members-only restaurant and bar, is once again accepting applications, reports food writer Kiki Aranita.
šµļøāāļø Searching for. If youāre broke, bored at work, or interested in a challenge, thereās a treasure hunt in Philly. The Inquirerās Jason Nark reports prizes are worth up to $10,000.
š° Imagining. Whatās it like to vacation at the popeās summer palace? Higher education reporter Susan Snyder got the lowdown from Villanova priests who consider Pope Leo a friend.
š¦ Shaking our heads at. The Eagles could be demoted from NBCās Sunday Night Football primetime spot due to their disappointing performance, reports The Inquirerās Rob Tornoe.
š§© Unscramble the anagram
Hint: This skyscraper was the first to climb higher than the William Penn statue atop Philadelphia City Hall.
ACNE BERYL POLITE
Email us if you know the answer. Weāll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Kristen Holly, who correctly guessed Tuesdayās answer: Sheryl Lee Ralph. The actress who plays Barbara Howard on ABCās Abbott Elementary visited Abington this past weekend for a political event.
Video of the day
Did you know The Inquirer has a cooking series? Itās called Love at First Bite and itās a nice little appetizer of a show. Watch local chefs pair off and develop a new recipe together for the The Inquirerās second annual Food Fest. Episode 6 is on Instagram now.
š Well, now Iām hungry.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerās Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Read more 10 municipalities could fund one fire service | Inquirer Chester County