🥨 Today’s pretzel freebies

🪧 Food Service Workers Strike at Wells Fargo Center

Ahead of the first home game in the Sixers’ playoff series, food service employees kicked off a multi-day strike. The workers are negotiating with their employer, Aramark — the food service company that contracts with all three of the South Philly professional sports venues — for higher wages and better health care coverage. [PhillyVoice]

🥨 It’s National Pretzel Day!

You can celebrate with a free pretzel from Auntie Anne’s (you need to download the app), another from Philly Pretzel Factory, and yet another from Wetzel’s Pretzels (but only after 3 p.m.). [94.5 PST]

• ⭐ Pssssst… If you live or work near Market East, you’re really in luck, because the Fashion District has all three of these chains.
• Also, Center City Pretzel Co. (which is actually in South Philly, not Center City) is doing a “Buy 4+, Get 1 Free” promotion. [Facebook]

🗳️ Presidential Primary Protest Votes

At least 147,000 Pennsylvania Republicans voted for Nikki Haley for president on Tuesday instead of Donald Trump, even though Haley dropped out of the race in early March. [Axios]

• Meanwhile, 14,000+ Philly Democrats opted to cast a write-in vote for president, almost six times more than in 2020. It’s unclear how many of those votes were “uncommitted” to protest President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas War. [Inquirer 🔒]

🚆 Most Punctual Amtrak Route Runs Through Philly

The Keystone Service line was on-time 95% of the time between October and December — compared to Amtrak’s 78% on-time performance system-wide. The train runs between Harrisburg and New York City, with stops in Central Pennsylvania, Philly, and New Jersey. [ABC27]

• Personally, I take this train route a lot! Would you be interested in reading a day trip guide to places along this route (or anywhere else in our region)? 🤔 Please fill out this super quick survey to let me know!

Is It PASS-YUNK or PASH-YUNK, Sheriff’s ‘Slush Fund’ & Sixers Grievance

It’s the Friday News Roundup! Today’s topics include the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office 'slush fund' — used to purchase ammunition, stun guns, and a $9,000 foam mascot costume — and how Sixers fans are feeling about officiating errors during playoff games against the Knicks.