🌱 Pizza Van Carjacked + Chestnut Street Bridge Reopens

Rise and shine, Philadelphia! Here's everything you need to know to get this Thursday started off right.

First, today's weather:

Rain and drizzle; cooler. High: 57 Low: 49.

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Here are the top three stories in Philadelphia today:

1. A 17-year-old is in custody after allegedly stealing a pizza delivery driver's minivan with the victim's girlfriend and three children inside. The driver for Campus Pizza on Diamond Street went to make a delivery at the 2700 block of Warnock Street when a masked suspect got into the vehicle and drove away. Police were able to pull the driver over and catch them on foot. (WPVI-TV)
2. The Chestnut Street Bridge will reopen this Saturday with wider sidewalks and a protected bicycle lane. The bridge connecting University City and Center City had been closed for renovation since August 2019. A section of the bridge was also repaved. (PhillyVoice.com)
3. Fairmount Park’s cherry blossoms are expected to reach peak bloom in early April. The cherry blossoms are located in the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center in the park. The blooms should burst around Apr. 8, close to when the Cherry Blossom Festival begins. (CBS Philly)

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Today in Philadelphia:

• Hoops At Harrah's (11:00 AM)
• The Shamrock Crawl At Misconduct Tavern (12:00 PM)
• Young Heroes Outreach Program Information Session At National Liberty Museum (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Gas prices have dipped slightly in the Philadelphia area overnight. (CBS Philly)
• Here are the 9 most anticipated restaurant openings in Philly this fall. (Eater Philly)
• The Phillies have signed star slugger Kyle Schwarber to a four-year, $79 million contract. (Philadelphia Patch)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you tomorrow for your next update.

— Dan Casarella

About me: Dan Casarella is a writer, podcast producer, and small business development specialist who formerly worked in late-night television. He’s produced many talk segments, including with President Joe Biden, Kobe Bryant, and Chadwick Boseman. Dan studied Media Studies and Production at Temple University. He also enjoys running, painting, and the highs and lows of Philadelphia’s sports teams.