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🗞️ PoliticsPA guide is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. Has this email been forwarded to you? Subscribe for free.
Weather in Pennsylvania
❄️ Erie | Lake Effect Snow, 25
☁️ State Higher School | Mostly gloomy, 21
☁️ Allentown | Mostly shining, 26
Sports PA
🏈 Eagles (15-3) | Sun vs. LA Rams
🏒 Penguins (18-19-8) | Tuesday vs. Seattle
🏒 Flyers (19-20-5) | Florida 4-3 | Tuesday vs. Columbus
🏀 Sixes (15-22) | Tuesday vs. Oklahoma City
🔊 What we hear. The fires in Los Angeles have already burned more than 60 square miles – the entire city of Pittsburgh is approximately 55 square miles.
📱 Social media. PoliticsPA has a number of social media sites where you can get the latest political news from across the Commonwealth: Twitter | Blue | Facebook | LinkedIn
The most vital story
1. US Battlefield: How Pennsylvania Changed the Course of American Politics
“In a turn of events that has astonished political analysts and voters alike, Donald Trump secured a historic return to the White House. At the heart of his victory lies Pennsylvania, a key state that decisively tipped the scales in his favor. This is a key moment in American politics, when Trump’s victory raises questions about the Democrats’ strategy, voter sentiment and the future of government in the US.
Pennsylvania’s unique political landscape has made it the ultimate battleground. With urban centers like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh favoring Democrats and vast rural areas leaning Republican, the state was a microcosm of the nation’s political division.” (Financial express)
Elsewhere
Trump was not acquitted, special counsel Jack Smith says in final report. “Donald Trump was not acquitted for his ‘unprecedented criminal effort’ to disrupt the 2020 election and stay in power after losing to Joe Biden. That was the message delivered by special counsel Jack Smith in his final report, which outlined evidence that Smith said would lead to Trump’s conviction at trial.” (POLICY)
The New York Times takes OpenAI to court. The future of ChatGPT may be at risk. “A group of news organizations led by The New York Times is taking ChatGPT developer OpenAI to federal court on Tuesday in a hearing that could determine whether the tech company will have to face publishers in a high-profile copyright infringement lawsuit.” . (WQLN)
Steelmakers Cleveland-Cliffs and Nucor are considering bidding for U.S. steel. “Investors say the Pittsburgh-based company cannot consider a deal until at least June, when its disputed merger with Nippon Steel becomes a reality.” (Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper)
Country
2. The mayor called the Sixers’ decision to stay in South Philly a “lopsided.” Some say she just sniffed it
“When Mayor Cherelle L. Parker in September, she revealed the terms of an agreement she had reached with the 76ers to build a novel arena in Center City, promised that she would make every effort to lend a hand promote the project to the public and obtain City Council approval for it.
“We are fighting for this shoulder to shoulder,” Parker told reporters.
Turns out the 76ers didn’t have the mayor’s support. (Questioner from Philadelphia)
- How NBA Commissioner Adam Silver put an end to the billionaire feud and helped keep the Sixers in South Philadelphia (Inquirer)
Shapiro confirms there is no state funding for the novel Sixers Arena and hopes the project will expand the area. (Penn Capital Star)
Elsewhere
A high-stakes election year in Pennsylvania for policing and criminal justice. “The new year brings high stakes across the Commonwealth for policing and criminal justice, as 18 counties will elect a district attorney and 32 will also hold sheriff elections.” (PoliticsPA)
Pennsylvania’s poorest schools received an extra $500 million last year. Is more money on the way? “Last summer, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed a budget that recognized an approximately $4.5 billion “adequacy gap” needed to adequately fund the commonwealth’s poorest schools and pledged to fill it using state dollars. In this budget, they have committed approximately $500 million to the cause. Now, as the novel legislative session begins, funding advocates want to make sure officials don’t drag their feet to cover the rest.” (PA reflector)
Lancaster Chamber Calls on Shapiro to Dedicate $284 Million to Child Care Workers. “Lancaster House Speaker Heather Valudes and other local community leaders on Monday called on Gov. Josh Shapiro to include in the next state budget a $284 million program to address the child care labor crisis that he says is holding back activities of enterprises. (LNP | Lancaster on the Internet)
‘Labour shortage will only get worse’: Trump’s deportation plans could hit PA agriculture hard. “With the state’s agricultural industry already struggling with labor shortages, President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to begin a mass deportation program at the start of his term next week could exacerbate the problem.” (Penn Capital Star)
Around the Republic of Poland
3. How Sleepy Bucks County became a rival to the Hamptons
“It’s hard to pinpoint when things started to change here, but you can start by coming Yolanda Hadid in 2017
Ms. Hadid, once a regular on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” bought a farm outside New Hope, Pennsylvania, to be closer to her model daughters Gigi AND Bella Hadidwho lived in New York at the time.
Suddenly, New Hope and its quaint neighboring towns became a celebrity enclave. Although the census might reveal fewer famous people per acre than in the Hamptons, Malibu or Aspen, the area’s brilliance factor was rising.” (New York Times)
Elsewhere
State-mandated bereavement leave is gaining popularity. Where is the PA? “When his father died of Covid-19 in 2020, James Gerraughty didn’t have to choose between work and mourning. Not everyone is so lucky. There is no universal bereavement leave policy in Pennsylvania. Employers offer it at their discretion, which means many employees may experience the death of a loved one but not receive leave.” (PA reflector)
DeMarco reflects on his time leading the local Republican Party and the Allegheny County Council. “More than five years after he was elected chairman – and more than nine years after first winning an at-large seat on the board – Sam DeMarco is stepping down from both positions to serve as the southwestern Pennsylvania regional director in the office of newly installed Sen. Dave. and McCormick.” (Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper)
State Rep. Blair Schmitt is entering the race for district judge. “State Rep. Lou Schmitt (R-Blair) announced his candidacy for judge of the Blair County Court of Common Pleas on Friday.” (PoliticsPA)
Internal documents show Lancaster County will face a $30 million budget hole next year. “Lancaster County last raised property taxes 12 years ago, and the county’s rainy day fund has a record balance of more than $60 million — two facts repeatedly emphasized by two Republican county commissioners.” (LNP | Lancaster on the Internet)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
1 Book
5. Article by AJ Brown Read the book that instantly rose to #1 best-selling seller on Amazon
“Stand aside, Oprah.
Philadelphia Eagles star AJ Brown could start his own book club after a little side reading, the self-help author’s growth skyrocketed Jim Murphy to the hottest seller on Amazon overnight.
The Eagles winger handed over the playbook and checked out the inspiring title – Brown casually ignored the action in a playoff game in Philadelphia and flipped through the pages of Murphy’s book, “Inner Excellence.”AP)
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