Could Philly Get Snow Today?

Good morning Philadelphia. Here’s what you need to know today.

We might actually get snow today in Philadelphia.

It’s no sure bet, NBC10’s forecasters say today: “But it’s the best chance so far.” Kind of. The precipitation that Philly sees today is more likely to be a “snow shower” which “tend to be scattered, last for a limited time, and accumulate only a little.” So don’t get your hopes up.

A non-profit foundation will take ownership of Philly’s largest newspapers

Philly Mag reports: Gerry Lenfest has created a not-for-profit foundation to own Philadelphia Media Network — the company that owns the Inquirer, the Daily News, and Philly.com — and endowed the new institute with $20 million as it oversees the newspapers’ continued operation. The move places the papers under the auspices of the Philadelphia Foundation, transforming the biggest news operation in America’s fifth-largest city into an unprecedented experiment in preserving large-scale newsgathering in the fast-changing — and fast-diminishing — newspaper industry. “It is not a surprise. In the last years, cutting costs has become an essential part of the business model for newspapers in this country,” one observer said. “It has a limit. In many cases it’s becoming clear they will not be able to consolidate or cut costs. I would not be surprised if there were other cases coming up. All the eyes of the newspaper industry will be looking at this experiment.” A formal announcement is expected at 11 a.m. today.

Montco Commission Chairman Josh Shapiro is running for attorney general “to clean up a mess.”

Philly Mag reports: When he formally announces his candidacy for attorney general on Tuesday, Josh Shapiro will do so in a three-and-a-half-page letter to Pennsylvanians that never once mentions Kathleen Kane — but that clearly defines her time in office as his reason for running. “The election will come down to this: Who can lead the office with integrity, who has the judgment and executive experience to clean up a mess, and who has a track record of fighting for our collective values,” Shapiro writes to supporters. The “mess” Shapiro refers to is clearly the scandal surrounding Kane. On the same day that a Pennsylvania Senate committee holds a hearing to decide whether to recommend her ouster from the office, Shapiro will point to a history of reform — both in Harrisburg, where he served in the Pennsylvania House, and in Montgomery County, where he is the Commission Chairman — as the rationale for his candidacy.

In New Jersey, lawmakers have voted to raise the smoking age to 21.

But don’t worry, young smokers: If you get caught with a cigarette when you’re 20 years old, nobody will punish you — but the store that sold you the cigarettes could be fined up to $1,000 for selling to you, NewsWorks reports. Hawaii has already raised its smoking age, as has New York City. The bill goes to Gov. Chris Christie now; he had not said whether he’ll sign it.

Former Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey has a new gig — helping Wilmington fight crime.

He’ll advise that Delaware city on how to reduce its violence, Delaware Online reports. “He is here to drive crime down,” said Mayor Dennis P. Williams. The city experienced “near-record” levels of violence in 2015: 131 were struck by gunfire, and 26 were killed. Ramsey will find post-retirement consulting rather lucrative: He’ll earn $112,000 for the gig. In return, he’ll also help Wilmington Police adopt the recommendations of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Ramsey, you might remember, was co-chair of that task force.

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