Good morning, Philadelphia.

American Water Works is merging with Essential Utilities to form a new $40B water and wastewater utility that will serve more than 2,000 communities while keeping customer prices unchanged.

The combined company will use the American Water name and is expected to close the deal by the first quarter of 2027.

A new project by 1838 Black Metropolis and Swarthmore College compared two censuses from the 1840s in Philly to show the daily life of free Black people.

The project matched records from 400 households and revealed stories of wealth, work, and Underground Railroad aid—bringing hidden history to light.

Carpenters’ Hall is launching a series of events to mark the 250th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s secret meetings with a French spy—called the Year of the Spy—with book clubs, whiskey tours, a Revolutionary Spy Hunt, and a Spy Soirée, while additional sessions and screenings are planned for later months. This celebration highlights Philly’s rich history and offers locals a chance to explore the venue’s past.

William Penn School District in Delaware County may run out of money by January 31 if the state budget is not passed—over half of its funds come from Pennsylvania and many students are economically disadvantaged.

School officials tried cutting costs but delays in state funds stopped their plans and may force big cuts.

SEPTA said it has inspected only 98 of its 223 Silverliner IV rail cars for fire safety ahead of the Oct 31 deadline — the agency is talking with the Federal Railroad Administration about an extension as delays and crowded trains continue.

Commuters face ongoing delays until more cars return to service.

Food banks and pantries are bracing for a surge in demand if federal SNAP benefits are paused on November 1 due to the ongoing shutdown; Philadelphia’s Share Food Program reported record low supplies following state funding cuts and rising local need.

Providers warn that a pause in assistance will worsen hunger for many families—donations will be vital to meet the expected demand.

The Philadelphia 76ers started 3-0 today with a win over the Celtics that featured rookie V.J.

Edgecombe scoring a record 34 points and Tyrese Maxey tying a season opener record with 40 points—while Joel Embiid's performance raised some concerns among fans.

The Philadelphia 76ers rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat the Washington Wizards in overtime—Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Quentin Grimes led the comeback.

The team will host the Boston Celtics on Halloween.

The Philadelphia 76ers traveled to Washington on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. to face the Wizards with Joel Embiid returning to the lineup and Trendon Watford making his debut.

The team set a minutes cap on Embiid—meant to keep him healthy for the long term.

After the Eagles beat the Giants, Saquon Barkley left the game with a groin injury but said he was not worried since he had dealt with it before, and NFL Network (Rapoport) said the injury is not major so he may return after the bye week.

Allison Stoutland — wife of the Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland — writes children’s books and supports the team behind the scenes.

She is known as a loving 'Mama Bear' who adds a caring touch to the organization.