🌱 Daybreak Double Shooting + New Office of Public Safety + Gas Opera

Good morning, everybody. It's me, Patty-Pat Kozlowski, your host of the Philadelphia Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town. Today you'll find news about:

• An early morning shooting leaves a man dead and a woman shot.
• City Council wants to create an Office of Public Safety.
• In order to deter crime, a 24 hour gas station plays opera music — very loud.

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But first, today's weather:

Rain and a thunderstorm. High: 63 Low: 27.

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Here are the top three stories in Philadelphia today:

1. It was just before dawn when gunshots rang out at A and East Westmoreland streets in the Kensington neighborhood. According to police, a man was found fatally shot in his chest and a woman bleeding from gunshot wound to her leg on the sidewalk. A white work van with bullet holes in it crashed on the sidewalk near A and Westmoreland streets. (nbcphiladelphia.com)
2. Due to the rise in crime, lawlessness and gun violence in the city, a new position to keep the public safe might be opening up. Council President Darrell Clarke and Councilmember Curtis Jones have proposed creating a new Office of the Chief Public Safety. "The position would require changing the City Charter to create the position, which would pay $265,000 per year. "
3. How about some Figaro with your fuel up? A gas station in Philadelphia, the site of many hold-ups and robberies, is blasting opera music in hopes that it will deter crime at the 24 hour business. No word yet if customers or robbers sing along. (CBS Philly)

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Today in Philadelphia:

• Winter Dance (Mifflin St. Gym) - Horace Furness (5:00 PM)
• Arts Access TV - Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (6:00 PM)
• Winter Formal - MAST Community Charter School (7:00 PM)
• RAW Taiko Drumming at Swarthmore College (7:00 PM)
• Get Up, Stand Up: An Encyclopedia of Soul (8:00 PM)
• CUPID's COMEDY - The STAND-UP COMEDY NIGHT for the Valentines Season (Fri Feb 17th @ 9:30) (9:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Philadelphia Parks and Rec is trying everything to get lifeguards to work this pool season. How about jumping into a pool in the cold of winter? Call it Artic Splash, Polar Plunge or Coolest Pool-Dive into a frigid pool in Fairmount Park to support Philly's lifeguards (PhillyVoice.com)
• The Philadelphia Zoo has two new bear babies! For the first time in more than three decades, the first pair of sloth bear cubs were born on January 2 on zoo grounds. Sloth bear mom and dad Kayla and Bhalu, both 10, are now the parents of two new cubs . We don't know the names yet but they'll be available for baby bear fans in April! (Patch)
• Good Morning America visited Philly to try and find our best pizza. I can't believe they left without trying Pizza Beddia, Tacconelli's, Angelo's and Santucci's. They didn't hit up Charlie's or Marra's, either. Check out who they picked and what Philly pizza joint is vying for a $10,000 prize and a golden pizza cutter. (6abc Philadelphia)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you soon!

— Patty-Pat Kozlowski

About me: Patty-Pat Kozlowski has been writing community news and Philly-cenric Op/Eds for over 20 years. A Jill of all trades she's been a stand-up comedian, chef, DJ, newspaper editor, food trucker and Parks Director for Philadelphia Parks & Rec as well as a community relations/legislative aide for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Philadelphia City Council.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Philadelphia Patch newsletter? Contact me at philadelphia@patch.com