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Philly’s rainbow crosswalks are fading, Made in America is moving | Morning Newsletter

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The crosswalks at 13th and Locust streets in the Gayborhood have faded considerably since they were installed in 2015.
The crosswalks at 13th and Locust streets in the Gayborhood have faded considerably since they were installed in 2015.Read moreMichael Boren

There may have been no rainbow in sight yesterday when the rain finally cleared, but you can find one on the streets of the Gayborhood, rain or shine. For now, at least. The photo-friendly multi-colored crosswalks at 13th and Locust Streets are in desperate need of repair, but who will fix them is unclear. Also unclear: the future of Philly's Made in America festival. Fans (and apparently festival leaders) were surprised to learn yesterday that the city wants to move the weekend event from the Parkway after this year. Finally, reporters have caught up with the third man who was in the Mercedes with developer Sean Schellenger last week when they stopped in traffic, a fight ensued, and Schellenger was killed — and he says he tried to chase the suspect.

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

» READ MORE: Philadelphia’s rainbow crosswalks are falling apart. Will anyone fix them?

The rainbow crosswalks at 13th and Locust Streets were once a gleaming landmark for the Gayborhood. That was 2015, when Instagram-happy visitors would traipse across the newly painted strip for photo after photo.

Now the crosswalks look, well, less than cheerful. Years of construction and use have faded them considerably.

But there is a solution: thermoplastic, a material much more durable than the paint used three years ago. The only problem? Figuring out who, if anyone, will pay for the fix.

» READ MORE: Rittenhouse stabbing exposes how gig workers take safety into their own hands

Hundreds of mourners joined a Tuesday memorial service for Sean Schellenger, the Philadelphia real estate developer fatally stabbed last week near Rittenhouse Square.

His death was the result of a spontaneous encounter with Michael White, on duty as a bicycle courier at the time, during traffic. Another man in the car with Schellenger who police said fled the scene has since been identified and says he is the one who called 911.

White's family said he had acted in self-defense and carried a knife for safety. The tragedy has since shone a spotlight on the way workers in the gig economy often prepare to defend themselves.

» READ MORE: Trump changes tune on Russian meddling

After lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle slammed President Trump's performance at a Monday press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump has changed course.

Tuesday he said he accepted U.S. intelligence agencies' conclusion that Russia meddled in the 2016 election and claimed he misspoke at the summit.

Regardless, Democrats in key races in our region say his comments show a need for a check on Trump in Congress, and suggest their Republican challengers aren't up to the task.

What you need to know today

  1. A 14-year-old boy was killed and three other youths and one man were wounded in a shooting in North Philadelphia Monday night. Police believe the boys were the intended targets of the shooting.

  2. After this year, the city says the annual Made in America festival, which takes over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for Labor Day weekend, is moving. Where to? Executives from Live Nation aren't sure — they only learned of their fate by reading the news online.

  3. Pitcher Aaron Nola made Phillies fans proud last night at his first All-Star Game by throwing a scoreless fifth inning. Meanwhile, rumors began to trickle out that the Phillies may be usurped in their pursuit of Manny Machado by the Dodgers.

  4. Back in 2016, Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey used an old Senate custom to block one of President Obama's judicial nominees. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) was just denied the same "blue slip" privilege.

  5. Abortion pills have been found safe and effective, but a recent study found tight regulations made them difficult to purchase online in the U.S. and left some women considering unsafe methods.

  6. Carmella Rizzo, the tiny but powerful force behind former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, died Sunday at age 101.

Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly

Glad you were able to find some shade, @ashleigh_erin!

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!

Calling all Philly sports fans: Join us at Yards Brewery tomorrow, July 19th, for an evening celebrating our coverage of an unforgettable year in Philadelphia sports. Our journalists and photographers will share what it's like to report right from the sidelines. Use promo code OURPHILLY to save $15 on tickets and learn more at philly.com/sidelines.

That’s Interesting

  1. Well, it was fun while it lasted: North Philly's parking-lot-turned-beach, complete with sand and pools, has been shut down after a weekend at "the Shore."

  2. The famed and refurbished Metropolitan Opera House on North Broad will open in December under a new name, but what will it look like? New renderings show off a very fancy interior.

  3. At the beginning of the month, Philadelphia health inspectors closed 33 local eateries for violations including cats, dead mice, live roaches, and (unfortunately) more.

  4. You've heard of coworking spaces like Industrious, but have you considered coworking…outdoors? You can try it out at a pop-up space at the Navy Yard, complete with Wifi and outlets.

  5. A second Philadelphia marijuana dispensary opened this week, but before it did the owners transformed a former Wawa into a space that now looks like a fashionable spa.

  6. Pose is a new FX dance musical series set in the 1980s that explores New York's ball culture — and columnist Elizabeth Wellington says we all need to check it out.

Opinions

"There is a way to take back the real America from the impostor presidency of Donald Trump, but the road doesn't go through our failed democratic institutions — not directly, anyway. Americans are going to have to hit the oligarchy in the only place it really hurts them: Its bankbooks." — Columnist Will Bunch on why a national general strike is the only way to get corporations, and thus politicians, on board with a Trump-free America.
  1. During the recent ICE protests at their Philadelphia office and City Hall, many demonstrators held signs reading "End PARS." So, columnist Abraham Gutman has explained what it is, why some want it gone, and why he thinks Mayor Kenney should agree.

  2. President Trump may be walking back the pro-Russia remarks he made at Monday's Helsinki summit but, columnist Solomon Jones writes, it's too late, and now the GOP must prove it cares about election integrity.

What we’re reading

  1. A writer at NJ.com has spoken up for NJ Transit commuters this summer season by humorously listing all the ways day-trippers could be more courteous to those heading to work — and it's a long list.

  2. Have you heard of the Wistar Rats? They may be just as famous as Stuart Little in science circles but, as Hidden City writes, their story shouldn't overshadow that of Dr. Helen Dean King, the legendary Philadelphia scientist who made them famous. Her story is inspiring.

  3. PlanPhilly has taken a deep, deep dive into Drexel University's development plans for the West Philadelphia neighborhoods at its borders. What they found by talking to administrators, residents and students is eerily similar to events nearby later referred to as Penntrification. It's a must-read for those interested in how institutions shape the city.

  4. Sports Illustrated has compiled a guide to every owner in the NFL, from how they made their money to where they donate it. You may already know Jeffrey Lurie's background, but many of the profiles make for curious reads.

  5. A long read on a writer's extravagant trip to Paris to understand haute couture may sound like an annoying exercise in decadence, but Refinery29's latest raises all kinds of questions about where fashion, money, and art intersect today. (And the designs do look lovely.)