🌅 Good morning!
📰 Headlines. Questions are beginning to emerge surrounding Brooks’ campaign in PA-07. Race for money. PECO withdraws its interest rate hike case after fierce protests from AP governor and lawmakers. The NFL Draft turns parking into a payday.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Everything about this bass. Meghan Trainor
Weather in Pennsylvania
☀️ Pittsburg | Mostly sunlit, 78
☀️ Harrisburg | Mostly sunlit, 78
🌤️ Philadelphia | Partly sunlit, 82
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (8-10) | Friday-Sunday vs. Atlanta
⚾ Pirates (11-8) | Washington 7-8 | Friday-Sunday vs. Tampa Bay
🏀 Sixers (Playoffs) | Sun in Boston
🏒 Flyers (Playoffs) | I was based in Pittsburgh
🏒 Penguins (Playoffs) | Saturday vs. Philadelphia
⚽ Union (1-0-6) | I was sitting at DC United
🔈 What we hear. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan announced her support for Bob Brooks for the PA-07 seat.
💬 Tips. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s leading source of unbiased political news and analysis. Tips and press releases can be submitted [email protected].
📕 PoliticsPA Guide was developed by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser click here.
The most essential story
1. Questions are beginning to emerge surrounding Brooks’ PA-07 campaign
“We knew the Democratic primary for the Lehigh Valley’s 7th Congressional District would be controversial.
Since there is a month left until the primaries, which will take place on May 19, we will soon see how controversial this is.” | PolitykaPA
Elsewhere
What caught our eye when reviewing the first quarter collection numbers. “The Federal Election Commission has collected quarterly collection reports for the period January 1 through March 31. After a few moments of rubbing our eyes… here’s what caught our eye at first glance at the numbers. First, there’s too much money in politics. Yes, Steve. And the sun rises in the east. ” | PoliticsPA
Stelson recruited more than all of Pennsylvania’s congressional candidates in the first quarter. “In the first 2026 campaign finance report, Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson has outperformed all congressional candidates running in Pennsylvania and nearly doubled the number of incumbents she is trying to unseat.” | Central Square
Western AP Congress officials have an advantage over challengers in campaign cash. “New documents show congressional officials running for re-election in western Pennsylvania have significantly more cash to fuel their campaigns than their rivals.” | TribLive
After the employee allegedly took $161,000. dollars, rabb is getting ready to lead a fundraiser for the congressional race in philadelphia. “Rep. Chris Rabb’s new financial reports provide first insight into the depth of alleged “unauthorized withdrawals” made by his former treasurer. Ala Stanford had the most money in the bank Questioner from Philadelphia
Shapiro will not allow PA to share disability data with the federal government. “Pennsylvania will not share disability data with the federal government under an executive order signed Wednesday by Gov. Josh Shapiro. Citing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s efforts to use Medicaid and Medicare data to determine the cause of autism, Shapiro recommended Pennsylvania not participate in the study unless required under federal law.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Country
2. Race for money
“In November, Pennsylvania voters will decide who wants to lead the state.
Check how much money a Democrat has Josh Shapiro and republican Stacy Garrity collected in their campaigns for governor of Pa..” | PA reflector
Elsewhere
Inside the Shapiro Administration’s ‘Absolutely Ambitious’ Plan to Prevent Maternal Deaths. “The Shapiro administration recently unveiled a five-year strategy to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women. Already, the group leading the effort has awarded nearly $600,000 in funding for initiatives focused on first-year goals, such as supporting mothers with substance use disorders. ” | PA reflector
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday signs letter supporting federal PBM transparency rule. “Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has joined 44 other attorneys general across the country to support proposed federal legislation that would require transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) about where they earn their revenue.” | Penn Capital Star
PA Insurance Group Policy County contracts with ICE will not be covered by current liability insurance. “The Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool, or PCoRP, which provides insurance to counties across the state through the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, has approved changes that exclude liability insurance for 287(g) contracts, a program that allows local law enforcement to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Around the Republic of Poland
3. PECO drops its interest rate hike case after backlash from AP governor and lawmakers
“Under pressure from Pennsylvania Governor Josh ShapiroPECO has withdrawn its last rate augment proposal submitted to the state Public Utility Commission.
The governor’s office said in a statement that the move resulted from negotiations with the company and called it a “huge victory for Pennsylvanians,” adding that it “will prevent unjustified price increases for 1.7 million Pennsylvanians.” WHY
Elsewhere
A state senator is calling for a moratorium on data centers in his eastern Pennsylvania district. “An eastern Pennsylvania lawmaker told voters this week that he shares public concerns about the construction of hyperscale data centers in the state. State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Bucks/Lehigh, held a town hall by phone Wednesday evening, announcing plans to introduce two bills to expand data centers on Thursday. ” | LehighValley Live
A giant nuclear waste dump in Pennsylvania will be dug up after decades of lawsuits and public outrage. “After decades of cancer cases and public outcry, the federal government will this week begin a long-awaited cleanup of a nuclear waste site in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The site in Parks Township, near Apollo, served as a dumping ground for hundreds of 55-gallon drums containing radioactive nuclear waste” | CBS News
Montgomery County is preparing for the 2026 primary election. “Approximately 621,140 residents registered to vote in Montgomery County last week, and as of Wednesday, 69,437 absentee ballots had been requested,” according to a Montgomery County spokesman. | Mainline times
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- Will US 250 lead to a better Philadelphia? Don’t bet on it | Thom Nickels
- Can Democrats turn dollars from purple to blue? | Pat Wandling
- This summer your air conditioner will compete with the data center | Desten Nock
- Clarence Thomas warns America: Freedom dies when we choose comfort over courage | Charles Stimson
- PA system offers affordable higher education, better future | Krzysztof Fiorentino
- York County Farmer’s Perspective in Data Center Dispute | Jamie Noerpel
1 item
5. The NFL Draft turns parking into a payday
“Parking will be at a premium around next week’s NFL Draft, and even surprise players like animal shelters, public schools and private residents are hoping to cash in.
City authorities are urging people to ditch driving and opt for public transport to avoid headaches, but many fans book parking in advance.
Rivers Casino offers a four-day NFL draft parking package for $500 plus taxes and fees when reserved in advance. Parking fee per day is $250 plus taxes and fees. | Axios Pittsburgh
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Relax, unwind. See you on Monday.
