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Philly still growing a bit, census shows; Eagles’ 2019 schedule released | Morning Newsletter

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PMN CLIP ART: The sun sets over the Philadelphia Skyline seen behind the Benjamin Franklin Bridge looking southwest from Cooper's Poynt Waterfront Park in North Camden, on the site of the former Riverfront State Prison. October 29, 2018 FILE PHOTO
PMN CLIP ART: The sun sets over the Philadelphia Skyline seen behind the Benjamin Franklin Bridge looking southwest from Cooper's Poynt Waterfront Park in North Camden, on the site of the former Riverfront State Prison. October 29, 2018 FILE PHOTORead moreTom Gralish / File Photograph

    The Morning Newsletter

    Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Slow but steady wins the race? If that’s the case, then perhaps Philadelphia is winning the game of growth. New census data shows our population is still growing little by little. Infographics on the data we have for you this morning give a bird’s eye view of how our region is changing. Speaking of birds, we have a preview of what next season holds for the Eagles now that the schedule is out. Plus, take a look at what are considered Philly’s “opportunity occupations.”

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— Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)

Philly’s population grew a little bit again in 2018. It was the 12th straight year of growth for the city, according to new Census Bureau estimates.

The growth of Philly is outpacing its suburban counties, too, except for Chester. While the region may be growing, that doesn’t mean people aren’t leaving. The city’s actually seen a net loss in domestic migration.

What else is changing? Dig into the data with interactive infographics from staff artist John Duchneskie.

Back in February, the three-member Philadelphia election board selected new voting machines for the city and their choice has been criticized ever since.

For weeks advocates have implored them to reverse their decision, restart the selection process, and make it more transparent. One member of the board even agreed.

But watchdogs received a setback Wednesday as the other two judges said they won’t overturn their decision.

If you don’t have a four-year college degree (like 62 percent of Philadelphians older than 25) and are looking for a job, Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and Cleveland have some ideas.

Their new report says that nurses, truck drivers, bookkeeping clerks and other jobs are “opportunity occupations” that pay more than the national median wage but don’t require those degrees.

These kinds of jobs compose 20 percent of the jobs in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area.

What you need to know today

  1. The Eagles’ 2019 schedule has been released and the Birds kick off the season with a game against Washington at home. Don’t miss our beat writers’ week-by-week predictions.

  2. Good news for Atlantic City Rail Line riders: Not only is service to Philly returning, but it’s coming back two weeks early with an improved schedule.

  3. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s office is dropping its challenge in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, clearing the way for him to re-argue his appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

  4. The teen who killed Boys’ Latin sophomore William Bethel IV on South Street last Easter testified Wednesday that the shooting was in self-defense, a theory the prosecutor called “nonsense.”

  5. Today a redacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election will be released. Here’s what you need to know.

  6. Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor from a modest Indiana city, has gone from obscurity to a presidential candidate with serious momentum in a flash. At his first official campaign stop this week he focused on the future.

Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly

Looks like you did pretty well without the drone, @stardroneusa.

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we’ll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out!

That’s Interesting

  1. Want to live on America’s oldest residential street? Good news, there’s a house for sale on Elfreth’s Alley. You’ll only need, like, $1.2 million.

  2. If Philadelphia’s 275-year-old Christ Church were to ever catch fire like Notre Dame, it has a plan. It’s called a “water curtain.”

  3. If you hate changing clocks for daylight saving time, consider moving to Delaware where they’re trying to join a new time zone to avoid it. Yes, really.

  4. Yes, you did see It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Rob McElhenney on Game of Thrones last week. No, it did not go well.

  5. It wasn’t a sunny day for Phillies pitcher Nick Pivetta. After struggling through just four starts this season, he’s been sent down to the minors.

  6. You may know Eastern State Penitentiary from its spooky Halloween tours, but how well do you know its everyday exhibits? Don’t miss these hidden gems.

Opinions

“Labeling a person as a thug is rarely about just their actions; it’s about painting them as savage, animalistic, unable to be tamed — and therefore subject to retributive violence. Violence that can be excused in a court of law or public opinion.” — The Angry Grammarian on the problematic history of the word “thug.”

  1. Philly’s Latinx girls need more mental health support and there are many things schools can do to help, writes El Centro de Estudiantes senior Angela Calderón.

  2. It’s time to end the federal electric-vehicle tax credit because it was built for those who are already comfortable, writes Washington Post columnist George Will.

What we’re reading

  1. NPR has checked back in with Paradise, Calif., after it was destroyed by a wildfire five months ago and found residents are returning, despite health hazards.

  2. If you saw Notre Dame burning and were immediately concerned about Philadelphia’s historic buildings, you’re not alone. PlanPhilly talked to local firefighters to find out how they keep our landmarks safe.

  3. Philadelphia is also home to some serious gems of modernist architecture. You can get a feel for the hot spots with Curbed Philly’s guide to the biggest local hits of the movement.

  4. You’re bound to be inspired by (and learn a thing or two about “bar” fitness from) Philadelphia Magazine’s interview with a Philly native who came to the sport after being shot at age 16.

  5. If you enjoyed documentaries about the disastrous Fyre Festival, you’ll love The Hollywood Reporter’s look at the saga of the Steve Jobs-Bill Gates Broadway musical.

A Daily Dose of | Confusion

Ah, springtime in Philly. The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining. Now if only someone could tell reporter Anna Orso what jacket she’s supposed to wear.