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📰 Headlines. The Court finds that access to abortion is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Pennsylvania Constitution. Mayhem Mastriano in Pennsylvania. The media in Pittsburgh has experienced a surprising change. PA mascots will race in the NFL draft.
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The most vital story
1. The Court finds that access to abortion is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Pennsylvania Constitution
“Finding that the Pennsylvania Constitution “guarantees the fundamental right to reproductive autonomy,” the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania on Monday, by a 4-3 vote, found the state’s ban on public funding of abortion unconstitutional.
The decision will likely be the basis for an appeal to the state’s highest court.
Writing for the majority Judge Mateusz Wilk found that the state was violating the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and the promise of equal protection. In the opinion of the majority, the state cannot select and finance primary health care based on gender-related needs.” | PolitykaPA
Elsewhere
Garrity ridicules Pennsylvania court ruling regarding Medicaid coverage for abortion. “In a social media post on her campaign account, Garrity called the decision immoral and criticized Gov. Josh Shapiro for not defending a 1982 law that allowed state funding for abortion only to save the mother’s life or in cases of rape or incest.” | abc27
Congressional candidate Bob Brooks apologizes for senior Facebook posts. “Democratic congressional candidate Bob Brooks was forced to explain two 2019 Facebook posts that supported conservative viewpoints, including calling former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick an “asshole” in one and offering a pro-gun response to mass shootings in another.” | Lehigh Valley Chair
PA-3 Democrats fight each other on the main Off-The-Rails forum. “Passions and tensions – mostly over the Israel-Gaza conflict – ran high Monday evening at a raucous forum in West Philadelphia featuring PA-3 Democratic candidates vying to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans.” | City and state
PA-07: Labor leader calls Ryan Crosswell a ‘union buster’ over employment history. “Tensions over the previous work of one congressional candidate running for office in the Lehigh Valley rose last weekend after a labor leader criticized the candidate’s previous employment at a national union-avoidance law firm.” | Key
Country
2. Mastriano’s chaos in Pennsylvania
“Pennsylvania Republicans have a problem with Doug Mastriano again.
Mastriano – a far-right state senator whose 2022 gubernatorial bid ended in a generational loss for Pennsylvania Republicans – spared his party a cluttered gubernatorial primary by saying in January that he would not seek a rematch with Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
But his supporters don’t want to let the ruling party out of jail so easily, which had early rallied behind state Treasurer Stacy Garrity as their preferred choice; have started a recruitment campaign for Mastriano at the primary school, which will take place on May 19 POLICY
Elsewhere
Pennsylvania’s minimum wage debate is causing concern among home care providers. “Providers of care for elderly and disabled Pennsylvanians say years of stagnant Medicaid funding have made it difficult for them to offer higher wages than fast food restaurants and convenience stores.” | USA Today Network
Pennsylvania lawmakers continue to push for cannabis legalization while ensuring a spotless slate. “Some lawmakers in Harrisburg continue to push for legal marijuana, while a bipartisan measure to legalize marijuana for adults stalls in the Pennsylvania Senate.” | CBS Philadelphia
Utility Watchdogs reject Pennsylvania Power Superhighway rate request. “The developers of a proposed power line that would run more than half the length of Pennsylvania want utility customers to start paying for the project well before it goes into service — even if it is never built.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Around the Republic of Poland
3. After facing the death of its dominant newspaper, the Pittsburgh media makes a surprising change
“Over the course of a few weeks this spring, the media in Pittsburgh had a near-death and resurrection experience.
Last week, the owners of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announced the sale of the newspaper to a nonprofit foundation that said it was committed to keeping it open. The pre-U.S. Constitution news service was scheduled to close on May 3, which would have made Steel City the largest community in the country without a municipal newspaper.
A few weeks earlier, the alternative newspaper Pittsburgh City Paper, whose employees learned on New Year’s Day that it was closing after 34 years, roared back to life under modern ownership.’ | AP
Elsewhere
Would Philadelphia Democrats running for Congress support Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the House? “If Democrats win the majority, the next representative from Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District could play a role in selecting the next Speaker of the House, who controls the flow of legislation and is second in the line of presidential succession.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Pittsburgh’s modern 2026 budget approved, including nearly $30 million in adjusted spending. “Mayor Corey O’Connor’s administration announced its intention to adjust the budget last month, saying the original financial forecast by former Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration significantly underestimated the budget in retiree health care expenses, overtime payments and more, making the city’s prospects ‘worse than we thought.’” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. PA mascots will be in the running for the NFL draft
“The NFL Draft will determine the mascot champion.
Intrigue: In “Pennsylvania’s Great Mascot Race,” Steely McBeam, Philadelphia Eagles mascot Swoop, Roc the Pitt Panther and the Penn State Nittany Lion will run the 40-yard dash to eternal glory.
Enlarge: According to the press release, Punxsutawney Phil, a real groundhog, will be on hand to predict the winner before the race. | Axios Pittsburgh
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