Mayor Parker is jumping into the race for Philadelphia's congressional seat by backing state Sen. Sharif Street.

Why it matters: The May Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District is tight, and Parker's backing will likely give Street an extra boost.

The big picture: The election is part of a generational shift unfolding across the Democratic Party in the post-Biden era.

• U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, who is in his 70s, is not running for reelection for his seat that includes parts of Philly. He served in state politics for decades before entering Congress in 2016.
• But after suffering a stroke in 2024, he missed months' worth of congressional votes, leading to questions over his fitness for office.

Driving the news: Parker said during a news conference yesterday that Street would be her reliable partner in Congress to leverage federal resources to help Philly.

Context: Street is a state senator representing parts of North Philly and is the son of former Philly Mayor John F. Street.

• He recently headed the state Democratic Party before stepping down to run for Congress.

Between the lines: Parker's endorsement of Street isn't a shocker.

• Just like Parker, Street has the backing of Philly's politically powerful building trades unions.
• Plus: Street has the endorsement of Philly's Democratic City Committee.

The other side: The other candidates vying for the seat are:

• Ala Stanford: A pediatric surgeon and political newcomer who rose to prominence running COVID-19 testing clinics in underserved neighborhoods. She has the backing of Evans.
• Chris Rabb: A state representative and the progressive in the race.
• Shaun Griffith: An attorney and tax adviser.

Flashback: Heading into the year, Street had a financial lead, with nearly $701,000 in contributions, per federal campaign finance reports.

• That's compared to Stanford with more than $467,000 (which includes $250,000 she loaned her campaign) and Rabb's $384,000.
• Griffith didn't have any campaign finance details available on the Federal Election Commission's website.

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"We want Boston," Sixers fans chanted as their team handled the Magic 109–97 in last night's play-in game.

Why it matters: The win sets up a first-round matchup with the Celtics, renewing one of the NBA's most storied rivalries.

Driving the news: Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points, including a clutch left-handed layup late that pushed the Sixers' lead to six — and they pulled away from there.

• Andre Drummond, filling in for Joel Embiid who was sidelined while recovering from an appendectomy, drilled a corner 3 to seal the game.

Zoom in: Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe shined in his postseason debut, posting a double-double (19 points, 11 rebounds).

What they're saying: Maxey, one of several Sixers who battled injuries this season, said during a postgame interview that this team has shown it's "resilient."

Flashback: This will be the 23rd playoff meeting between the Sixers and Celtics.

• Philly hasn't beaten Boston in a series since 1982, though it pushed the Celtics to Game 7 in 2023.

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👀 The newly expanded Stateside Live! opens on May 29, Comcast Spectacor and its partners revealed yesterday. The $20 million upgrade includes a two-story, rooftop lounge and bar, and outdoor stage for up to 5,000 people.

• The project is part of a massive transformation of the Sports Complex that will include a new arena.

🏟️ Speaking of the Sports Complex, the new Sixers-Spectacor arena will be built atop an existing parking lot on the southeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, Spectacor CEO Dan Hilferty revealed yesterday.

• But the design of the arena remains TBD. (Inquirer 🔒)

⚔️ Parker went on the offensive for her proposed rideshare tax yesterday amid growing opposition from Uber. The mayor said at a news conference that Philly's school district would avoid all school-based staffing cuts due to a big budget deficit — if the city approves the $1-per-ride tax.

• Parker says the rideshare tax, along with another unrelated tax change, would eventually lead to $50.4 million in annual new revenue for the school district.

Spring brings one of the easiest chances of the year to spot an otherworldly glow in the night sky.

The big picture: Right now is prime time in the Northern Hemisphere to see the zodiacal light — or "false dusk" — about an hour after sunset on the western horizon.

• Many people mistake it for distant city lights or lingering twilight, but it's actually sunlight reflecting off a vast cloud of dust spread through our solar system, according to EarthSky.
• Scientists have long thought the dust comes from comets and asteroid collisions — but newer research suggests some of it may come from Mars, per NASA.

Why it matters: The zodiacal light is one of the most magical sights in the night sky — and one of the few cosmic phenomena you can see with the naked eye, if you know when and where to look, said Deborah Byrd of EarthSky.

Pro tips: A good opportunity is coming up starting Friday with the new moon.

• Head to a dark rural area away from city lights.
• Go on a clear night with little or no moonlight.
• Watch for a faint triangular glow that's whitish, not pink like twilight, according to StarWalk.

Blakelyn Kelly could have wished for anything. She chose a s'mores cookie.

Why it matters: With help from Famous 4th Street Cookie Company, she turned a campfire classic into a fundraiser powering wishes for kids across the Philadelphia region.

The big picture: When she was in first grade, Kelly was diagnosed with von Hippel-Lindau disease — a rare genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow throughout the body.

• In 2024, when it came time to make her wish, she teamed up with the bakers at Famous 4th Street Cookie Company to perfect her s'mores cookie recipe.

What's happening: The cookie is sold in-store and online every April for World Wish Month, with proceeds helping fund wishes for other children facing serious diseases.

• So far, Kelly has already raised about $11,000.

🤲 Helping out: You can order a Make-A-Wish box for $39.95.