Delaware River’s history of spills; Electric ‘horse’ carriages?; Philly’s James Beard finalists | Morning roundup

Environmental mishaps threaten the Delaware River quite often

Industrialization has threatened Delaware River water quality for centuries, but there’s no shortage of recent mishaps like last weekend’s chemical spill.

• That very same Bucks County plant has seen three other mishaps in the last decade alone. There was a big train derailment in South Jersey, a pipeline leak in Tinicium, and a huge tanker crash.

Jordan Levy put together a short recap of recent spills, accidents, and incidents that’ve affected the region’s largest and most important waterway.

→ Who’s at fault, and who cleans up 

Philly nabs six spots on James Beard Award finalist list

Philadelphia is repping well at this year’s James Beard Awards, Eater reports, which are basically the Oscars of the food world. 

• Rittenhouse favorite Friday Saturday Sunday, a modern revamp of a stalwart from the 1970s, is up for outstanding restaurant. Best chef Mid-Atlantic noms include Jesse Ito (Royal Izakaya — see below), Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon (Kalaya), and Dionicio Jiménez (Cantina La Martina).

Also on the national radar: Ellen Yin of Fork for outstanding restaurateur, and Amanda Shulman of Her Place Supper Club for emerging chef. 

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• After about two months in treatment for depression, Sen. Fetterman is expected to make his return to the Senate the week of April 17. [NBC News]
   
• The Philly School Board passed a $4.5 billion budget earlier this week, but members say more money is needed to address crumbling buildings, increase teacher retention, and provide more learning opportunities. [Chalkbeat/BP x 2]
   
• The district and the city are working on a new plan to reopen the pool at Sayre High School, where lifeguards used to train. The School Board last year shot down a $10 million proposal, despite community demonstrations. [KYW/6ABC]
   
• PPD Commissioner Outlaw was one of a handful of people who suffered minor injuries after a car crash at 15th and Race, which police say happened after a rideshare driver ran a red light. [CBS3/@billy_penn]
   
• Heads up if you use I-95 Exit 27 in Northeast Philly: It’s closing for good mid-April as part of a $268M PennDOT project to reduce accidents and improve traffic flow. [Fox29]
   
• Philadelphia could become the first U.S. city to use electric “horse” carriages, thanks to animal rights activists. The goal is to have a street-ready prototype by summer’s end. [Axios]
   
• It’s Opening Day for the Phillies! …and ACL surgery day for Rhys Hoskins (yes), who’ll likely miss the whole season. The Phils made a last-minute trade to snag outfielder Christian Pache from the A’s.  [Good Phight/NBC Sports Philly/MLB]

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Kenney hits the Convention Center to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day (1 p.m.). Rebounding from the pandemic dip, conventions, conference, exhibitions and trade shows are expected to have a $500 million economic impact on the Philly region this year, per the Biz Journal — not far from the recent high of $617 million in 2019.

ON THE CALENDAR

📋 Meet the contenders for at-large seats at the City Council Candidates Convention hosted at WHYY in partnership with The Inquirer and the Committee of 70. The event will run like a reverse job fair, with candidates receiving visitors at their tables. (4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 11)

⚕️ Learn the history of Philly’s yellow fever epidemic and its racist response, and take a free tour of the nation’s first quarantine station, the Lazaretto, at the junction of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers. (2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 1)

🎞️ “Mare of Easttown” fans might want to take a trip to Delco to meet show writer/producer Brad Ingelsby, as he helps kick off the free Neumann University Film Festival. (Friday and Saturday, March 31-April 1)