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Headlines. The fight over U.S. data centers is disrupting Pennsylvania politics. Energy future a key issue in the gubernatorial race. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Attacks Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. “Price Charm”
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What’s happening today. The House meets at 11:00. The Senate returns on June 22.
What we hear. State Treasurer and Republican Party candidate for Governor Stacy Garrity launched the Veterans for Garrity coalition as part of her campaign. Veterans for Garrity will lead its statewide effort to activate Pennsylvania’s enormous veteran community and inform them about Garrity’s forward-looking initiatives to support the Commonwealth’s hometown heroes.
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 critical story
1. How the fight over US data centers is disrupting US politics: ‘We don’t want it’
“At packed meetings across Pennsylvania, residents are trying to stop data centers from becoming their recent neighbors. They’re pushing local officials to pass local conservation ordinances and block developer proposals – and sometimes it works.
Many Pennsylvanians feel overwhelmed by the pace of development. They want more time. Beth Livenspergerwho is fighting a proposed data center in the Lehigh Valley, says a statewide moratorium would lend a hand her find other residents to raise objections and allow for further research on environmental and public health impacts: “I’m 100% for it: it would give the politics time to calm down a little bit.”
According to an Emerson College survey released in December, about 42% of Pennsylvanians do not want to live near data centers; 34% support building such facilities in or near their communities. Across the country, seven in 10 Americans oppose building AI data centers in their local areas.” | Guardian
Elsewhere
Games of skill were declared illegal. What now? “The consequences of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s ruling on arcade games go far beyond the corner bar or local gas station. The ruling that arcade games are slot machines and violate the Commonwealth Gaming Control Act has a major impact on budget negotiations between House Democrats and Senate Republicans in a divided state government. ” | PoliticsPA
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s ruling on arcade games could change the way clubs and convenience stores operate across Pennsylvania. “From local social clubs to corner convenience stores, Pennsylvania’s long-running debate over arcade games may have entered a new chapter.” | PhillyDaily
Officials say the AP court ruling could spur legislative action on skill games. “It’s unclear how the potential legislation could impact businesses, social clubs and salons that have the machines on their premises, as well as municipalities that have passed their own ordinances on monetizing the ubiquitous machines. In some cases, the machines provide income that could mean the difference between a business or club ending up in the red or in the red.” | Grandstand overview
State unemployment programs covered by federal anti-fraud campaign. “The Trump administration is warning all 50 states that if they do not comply with anti-fraud measures, they risk losing federal funding for unemployment insurance benefits.” | Wall Street Journal
Country
2. Energy future – a defining issue in the gubernatorial race
“Pennsylvania’s energy future is becoming a defining issue in the 2026 governor’s race, and both Democrats and Governor Josh Shapiro and Republican state treasurer Stacy Garrity they claim their competing plans will make energy more affordable for residents.
Garrity, speaking recently before the Marcellus Shale Coalition in Hershey, promised a program focused primarily on natural gas that would remove barriers to drilling, speed up permitting for pipelines and power plants, eliminate energy mandates and position the commonwealth as a national and global energy leader.
Her message contrasts with Shapiro’s broader approach to energy, which also emphasizes affordability, reliability and expedited approval of energy projects, but places greater emphasis on tidy energy investments and guardrails for enormous energy users. | Central Square
Elsewhere
Protect the Women’s Sports Act, the Minimum Wage Act continues the legislative dance. “It started in the Judiciary Committee on December 16, and spent the rest of the old year and the first 15 days of 2026 being referred to the Education Committee. Ninety days later, it was referred to the Health Committee. And a month and a half later, it was back to the Judiciary Committee. ” | PoliticsPA
PennDOT employees at Harrisburg office report months-long rodent problem and claims of deteriorating building conditions. “According to a source who contacted Broad + Liberty, employees at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Harrisburg office reported a months-long rodent problem, duct-taped stair treads and weakened flooring, creating a tripping hazard.” | Wide + Freedom
Around the Republic of Poland
3. AP Supreme Court Slams Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Saying It Misled Judges in Seeking to Overturn Old Murder Convictions
“In a forceful and punitive opinion, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that D.A Larry Krasner his office misled the court, “breached the duty of candor” and made false statements in asking the judge to overturn his 2004 murder conviction.
In the opinion issued on Tuesday entitled Judge Kevin Dougherty wrote that prosecutors’ pattern of misleading judges in an attempt to overturn murder convictions is so disturbing and repeated that in the future, before Krasner’s office seeks such relief, judges must notify the state attorney general’s office and allow it to retry the case. | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
Pennsylvania organizers want a ballot measure banning the operate of confidential information for political purposes. “Left-wing Pennsylvania nonprofit launches ballot initiative aimed at reducing conflicts of interest for local officials in two counties accustomed to political scandals.” | known
Carnegie Mellon donates $3 million to support educational programs in Pittsburgh. “Carnegie Mellon University became the latest major nonprofit to give funds, announcing a $3 million commitment to the city of Pittsburgh on Tuesday afternoon. Since taking office in January, Mayor Corey O’Connor has been able to attract more than $21 million in gifts from the largest tax-exempt groups and foundations in the region. ” | School leaders say oversight of Philadelphia charter schools is flawed But fixing it is complex. “Pennsylvania has a vision for charter schools: to enhance student learning, provide families with choice and explore innovative approaches to teaching – all while holding the local district to high standards. But in Philadelphia, where one-third of the city’s public school students attend charter schools, some education leaders say tensions between charter school and district principals are making that vision increasingly difficult to achieve.” | Chalkbeat
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Why you are more likely to buy something for $4.99 than $5.00
“Look closely at prices and you’ll notice that almost nothing ends at zero.
- A standard Netflix subscription costs $19.99.
- Last month, Target had an online sale on Pokemon Crocs for $49.99.
- A variety pack of LMNT electrolytes was $26.91 on Amazon.
These last digit choices were probably not made by accident. The practice of intentionally ending a price with a value other than zero is often called charm pricing.
Over the decades, researchers have found that retail prices ending in exact numbers, often nine, occur much more often than chance would predict. This is one of the oldest psychological tricks in the capitalism playbook, dating back to the 19th century and continuing to this day. | Noise
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