💸 Good morning! It’s tax day
📰 Headlines. Flying final stretch in PA-03. The AP House passed Shapiro’s state budget proposal. Post-Gazette will continue publication after sale to nonprofit Media Group. Beloved Midwestern meat lottery
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. She can do anything. AL9 team
Weather in Pennsylvania
☔ Mercer | Showers, 80’s
☀️ New Oxford | Sunny, 88
☀️ Saylorsburg | Mostly bright, 86
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (8-9) | Young 4-10 | Wednesday vs. Chicago Cubs
⚾ Pirates (10-7) | Washington 4-5 | Wednesday vs. Washington
🏀 Sixes (45-37) | Wednesday – Orlando (preliminary match)
🏒 Leaflets (43-27-12) | Montreal 4-2 | TBA in Pittsburgh
🏒 Penguins (41-25-16) | Saint Louis 5-7 | Philadelphia TBA
📅 What’s happening today. In the House of Representatives, voting takes place at 11:00.
🔈 What we hear. Mayor of Philadelphia Chelle Parkeralong with Representative Morgan Cephas, Senator Vincent Hughes and three city council members will pledge their endorsements in the PA-03 Democratic primary this afternoon.
💬 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 significant story
1. Philly’s three-way fight to replace Dwight Evans in the US House of Representatives is entering an unstable finale
“All three top candidates running to represent Philadelphia in Congress have reason to be confident heading into the final month of the campaign.
That is: all three of them have reasons to be afraid. | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
PA-07: Democrats’ position on issues including immigration and rising costs. “Four Democrats have lined up to challenge incumbent Republican Ryan Mackenzie, who is seeking a second term. Ahead of the May 19 primary, The Morning Call asked Democratic candidates for detailed thoughts on key issues, including the Iran war, inflation, immigration issues and other top topics. ” | Morning talk in Allentown
Gas costs over $4 a gallon in Philadelphia. Boyle wants to eliminate the federal gas tax to ease the pain. “U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle announced a bill that would cap the federal gas tax when the national average gas price exceeds $4 a gallon while visiting a gas station in Northeast Philadelphia.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
What needs to happen before PA joins the 24 states with legal marijuana? “It’s been 10 years since then-Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed the medical marijuana bill into law, so how long will efforts to legalize recreational marijuana for adult use last?” | USA Today Network
Country
2. AP House adopts Shapiro’s state budget proposal
“One down, one out.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a general appropriations bill Tuesday to fund the commonwealth’s Executive, Legislative and Judicial Department expenses, national debt and public schools. | PoliticsPA
Elsewhere
Shusterman proposes amending Pennsylvania’s constitution to address the state budget deadline. “You see it in practice all the time. There are deadlines… and there are also “real” deadlines. And in Harrisburg there is a “deadline” for passing the state budget in Pennsylvania. | PolitykaPA
The two newest members of the PA House are sworn in. “Andrea Verobish and Catherine Wallen received the oath of office from Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton on Monday and took their seats in the chamber.” | PoliticsPA
State efforts to rein in PBMs have hit a legal roadblock. “State efforts to regulate pharmacy benefit managers clash with federal law, reviving a power struggle over who can oversee the companies that manage drug benefits for most Americans. States are trying to rein in middlemen who negotiate drug prices and pay pharmacies, but face federal law that has the final word on employer health plans.” | Axles
PA State House Passes 2 Data Center Ordinance Measures. “The Pennsylvania House has approved two bills related to the construction of hyperscale data centers. This week’s votes are the latest moves by Harrisburg lawmakers to regulate a rapidly growing industry that is opposed by some community and environmental groups. ” | THAT’S ALL
Around the Republic of Poland
3. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will continue publication after sale to Nonprofit Media Group
“The publisher of a highly regarded Baltimore-based nonprofit digital newspaper announced Tuesday that it has agreed to acquire the assets of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, ending nearly a century of family control of the newspaper.
Block Communications Inc. based in Toledo, Ohio, is selling the assets of the Post-Gazette Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, publisher of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Baltimore Banner. The press office and local business leadership will remain in Pittsburgh, while other functions, including technology and business operations, will be merged with teams at the Venetoulis Institute.” | Mail Newspaper
Elsewhere
O’Connor’s first 100 days as mayor of Pittsburgh were marked by crises, twists and coups. “In his first 100 days as mayor of Pittsburgh, Corey O’Connor has grappled with crises and celebrated successes.” | Grandstand overview
Offensive, blasphemous and disgraceful: Western Pennsylvania Catholics weigh in on public discourse between Trump and Pope Leo XIV. “West Deer resident Sam Mayhan has only ever voted for one person for president: Donald Trump. But the 28-year-old Catholic is now ‘pretty concerned’, feeling torn between his political loyalties and faith after the president’s recent social media attacks on Pope Leo XIV.” | Grandstand overview
Allegheny County Council proposes bill to ban law enforcement – including ICE – from wearing masks. “If passed, the ordinance would mean that any officer who intentionally conceals his or her face or badge while working in the county could be found guilty of withholding criminal information, which could result in penalties that include a fine of up to $500 and up to 90 days in jail.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Hot dogs, steaks and bacon, oh my god! Meat raffles keep alive a beloved Midwestern tradition
“In these polarizing times, Minnesotans have found something they can agree on — the thrill of the meat raffle.
Meat raffles have been popular across the United States for decades and are a great way to raise money for charity while also giving away prizes ranging from ground beef and scorching dogs to chicken breasts and steaks. But while inflation has skyrocketed and meat prices have skyrocketed, Minnesota’s $70 prize limit per event hasn’t changed in nearly 40 years. | AP
Thank you for starting your day with us.
For some reason I’m thinking about grilling today. See you tomorrow.
