🚉 It’s Tuesday
🗞️ In today’s Guide. State Supreme Court battles move to Pennsylvania. The report lists PA’s most and least effective lawmakers. Small town PA turns to Philadelphia on gun laws. Riding the steam train to school.
🎶 Your morning pick-me-up. Raspberry Beret. Prince
Weather in Pennsylvania
☔Pittsburgh | Showers, 71
🌥️Harriburg | Rising clouds, 82
☀️ Philadelphia | Mostly bright, 82
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (0-1) | The Dodgers are 3-4 | Wednesday vs. LA Dodgers
🏒 Penguins (0-0) | Tuesday vs. NY Rangers
📅 What’s happening today. The House (11:00) and Senate (1:00) are in session.
🔊 What we hear. Governor Josh Shapiro appears a modern ad hitting the airwaves on Tuesday, which urges Pennsylvanians to vote “yes” in the November race to retain the Supreme Court.
🔊 What do we also hear?. Senator John Fetterman was one of only three members of the Democratic caucus break ranks and vote for the GOP-led stopgap billwhich would finance the government until November 21.
📰 PoliticsPA Guide was developed by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser click here. Has this email been sent to you? Subscribe for free.
The most significant story
1. State Supreme Court battles move to Pennsylvania
“There are no million-dollar giveaways to voters, no baseball caps, or even candidate debates. Elon Musk nowhere to be found.
But what’s at stake in Pennsylvania’s fall elections is much the same as in Wisconsin last spring: partisan control of the Supreme Court in a key presidential swing state.
In November, Pennsylvania voters will decide whether three state Supreme Court justices – all Democrats – should keep their seats on the court that has been at the center of key battles over voting rights, redistricting and elections. (AP)
Elsewhere
Following Pete Hegseth’s remarks, Chrissy Houlahan is on a mission to defend women’s role in combat. “A Democrat from Pennsylvania who served as an engineer in the Air Force and then taught high school chemistry is on the front lines of the debate over the future of women in the military.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)
Jan. 6: A probe analyzed phone records of GOP lawmakers, senators say. “Federal investigators collected and analyzed call records from the personal cell phones of eight senators and Republican Sen. Mike Kelly as part of their investigation into the attack on the Capitol building that occurred on January 6, 2021, the office of Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles E. Grassley announced Monday.” (Roll call)
Top Pennsylvania Democrat defeats robocall lawsuit in federal appeals court. “Three justices ruled that federal law restricting robocalls does not apply to state legislators conducting government business, and reversed a lower court decision that would have allowed Perrong’s lawsuit filed against Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Matthew Bradford to proceed.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)
Country
2. Report lists PA’s most and least effective lawmakers and the impact of partisan divisions on Harrisburg
“The month-long budget gridlock in Harrisburg has many wondering: How effective are these lawmakers even?
A report on the effectiveness of Pennsylvania’s legislators both confirmed existing ideas and raised existential questions about who among Harrisburg lawmakers is getting the bills done – and what impact they will have. (City and state)
Elsewhere
PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s budget borrowing plan called a political stunt by Senator Costa. “A new loan program established by Republican state treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity to help counties and other organizations weather a worsening state budget impasse on Monday was called a political stunt by a top Democrat.” (Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper)
Ward says “we are a temporary solution” after Ciattarelli praises Shapiro. “The commonwealth’s divided government means that ‘getting things done,’ as Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro likes to say, doesn’t come easy. If that happened, Republicans in the state say, the commonwealth could become the ‘California of the East.’Central Square)
Shapiro pledged his support for Canada, Pennsylvania’s top export market, during his first international trip to Quebec as governor. “Before a conference of US governors and Canadian dignitaries, Shapiro gave a speech in Quebec, saying: ‘Pennsylvania will always welcome Canadians.’Questioner from Philadelphia)
Lancaster Country Day AI incident prompts lawmakers to push for changes to mandatory reporting laws. “Three Lancaster County lawmakers are working on legislation that would require school administrators to report the detection of any artificially generated sexually explicit images of minors, regardless of whether the perpetrator is a minor.” (LNP)
Around the Republic of Poland
3. A tiny town in Pennsylvania turns to Philadelphia for gun laws
“A series of shootings has prompted York authorities to ban ghost guns and machine gun converters, along with their counterparts in the eastern part of the state. However, the regulations may not apply.
The strategy of passing local laws to prevent gun violence is risky in Pennsylvania, a state with a preemption law that gives it exclusive power to regulate firearms. Still, last February, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld Philadelphia’s ghost gun ban. The city of Reading has since enacted a ban, as have Pennsylvania’s capital, Harrisburg, and Delaware County, which has also banned the switches.
But now local measures in York, Philadelphia and elsewhere are the subject of a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court.” (Citizen of Philadelphia)
Elsewhere
Online casinos contributed more than $6 billion in gaming revenue to PA in 2024-2025. “Legalized gambling in Pennsylvania generated approximately $6.4 billion in revenue for PCGCB-regulated operators in fiscal year 2024-25, generating $2.8 billion in tax revenue for the state.” (PennLive)
Federal housing funding is at risk as Berks County grapples with record homelessness. “Groups serving unhoused people in Berks County will have to abandon a proven housing model or risk losing millions of dollars under policies expected by the Trump administration.” (PA reflector)
Clearfield County will earn $1 million from 5-year contracts with ICE, operator of the Moshannon detention center. “The county is entering the final year of its contracts with ICE and GEO Group as the Trump administration has stepped up efforts to deport undocumented immigrants.” (PA State College Spotlight)
Scientists find evidence that water in Pennsylvania city has been contaminated by fracking. “Three years after noticing discoloration and unpleasant odors in wells, New Freeport residents are still fighting for clean water.” (Inside Climate News)
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Students ride a vintage steam train to school in southern Huntingdon County
“For over a century, the East Broad Top Railroad has been the lifesaver of central Pennsylvania. Built in the 1870s, it is the oldest surviving narrow-gauge railroad east of the Mississippi and still operates on its original track and steam locomotives.”
This fall, the railroad started a modern tradition intended to inspire generations to come: “Take the Train to School Day.” Students in the Southern Huntingdon County School District swapped school buses for passenger cars by riding a steam train directly to the high school.
“I don’t know of any other place in the United States where you can take a train powered by a steam locomotive to school instead of taking a school bus,” said Brad Esposito, general manager of the East Broad Top Railroad. (WPSU)
Thank you for starting your day with us.
See you tomorrow, here
