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🗞️ Headlines. Shapiro takes over Garrity. Democratic congressional candidates in the Lehigh Valley are bragging about their credentials. Why PA’s energy boom isn’t lowering energy bills Hershey’s back to classic Reese’s recipes.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Shama Lama Ding Dong. Lee scooter
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Sports PA
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🔉 What we hear. “It’s basically a paper tiger. It’s not an actual congressional stock trading ban. It’s full of loopholes. So it wouldn’t really solve the problem,” he said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette.
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The most significant story
1. Susquehanna Poll: Shapiro has a clear lead over Garrity
“Yes, the survey publication date is April 1.
Pennsylvania Republicans can only wish it was a joke.
The latest Susquehanna Polling & Research poll shows the incumbent Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro has a 22-point advantage over the likely challenger from the Republican Party Stacy Garrity” | PoliticsPA
Elsewhere
Stacy Garrity is a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump. Will this lend a hand or hurt her campaign in Pennsylvania? “Garrity has continually supported the president, often going out of her way to express support for his policy decisions that have little to do with her work as the state’s top fiscal watchdog.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Shapiro raised $10 million in the first quarter. “Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro earned more than $10 million from his re-election campaign in the first three months of the year, his team tells Axios, a huge sum that shows how much funding a potential 2028 presidential candidate has managed to raise.” | Axles
Lawmakers have said they want to restrict trading in their own shares. What happened? “For the core group of believers, the last few months have brought frustration, broken promises and competing efforts.” | Roll call
Country
2. Lehigh Valley Democratic congressional candidates brag about their credentials during primary debate
“The four Democrats vying for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District faced off in their first televised debate on Wednesday, highlighting their accomplishments and pasts ahead of a crowded May primary.
Bob Brooks, Ryan Crosswell, Lamont McClure AND Carol Obando-Derstine he answered quick questions in front of about 120 people in the Foy Moravian College auditorium.
The candidates were clear on issues such as stopping ICE enforcement, the need to lower the cost of consumer goods and their willingness to fight on behalf of the District in Washington.’ | LehighValley News
Elsewhere
AP’s first investment in public defense enabled offices to hire lawyers and improve case management. “Reports released earlier this year show that the first two years of Pennsylvania funding for indigent defense have resulted in progress toward better services for criminal defendants who otherwise could not afford their own attorney.” | PA reflector
Sultana ruled out the Democratic vote in the 18th Senate primary. “Democrat Taiba Sultana was removed from the ballot in the May 19 primary election, losing her chance to challenge incumbent Lisa Boscola for their party’s nomination in Pennsylvania’s 18th Senate District.” | Lehigh Valley Chair
Shapiro does not tell the Erie Crowd that no decisions will be made about the future until the semesters are over. “On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the arson of the Governor’s Mansion, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on March 31, while at the Jefferson Educational Society in Erie, reflected on the toll this politically motivated incident had taken on him and his family.” | Erie Times-News
Mastriano’s supporters begin campaigning for the Republican nomination for governor. “Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity has a challenger for the GOP nomination for governor…albeit a write-in candidate.” | PoliticsPA
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Why PA’s energy boom isn’t lowering energy bills
“Domestic energy production is at an all-time high, but this does not lead to lower electricity bills.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Pennsylvania is doing its part to support the local grid, producing record amounts of natural gas and exporting more electricity than any other state in the country.
But even that doesn’t lower costs for consumers because Pennsylvania still doesn’t produce or transmit enough energy.” | Axios Pittsburgh
Elsewhere
Smucker says states in the group should remain responsible for elections. “In a rare break with President Donald Trump, Lancaster County Republican Congressman Lloyd Smucker said he does not believe the federal government should run elections.” | LNP
In the Lehigh Valley, FBI Director Kash Patel is touting efforts to stop fentanyl-related deaths. “FBI Director Kash Patel joined a group of state and federal law enforcement officials in Allentown on Wednesday to brainstorm solutions to the fentanyl crisis. The closed-door session, led by U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, included families of young people who died after taking a cheap synthetic opioid that is often mixed with other drugs, leading to accidental overdoses. ” | Morning talk in Allentown
Harvie, Dence’s former colleague, continues to receive money from IBEW — even after reporting the discovered failures. “When it first came to light in August 2024 that Falls Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff Dence (D-state) had failed to disclose significant campaign contributions, two things had not changed: County elections officials let him go – and he continued to receive money he did not report.” | Bucks Independence
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- Why don’t we think critically about our politics and democracy? | John Baer
- The NFL Draft is coming to Pittsburgh. It brings economic benefits – and hidden public safety costs | Adam Annaccone
- NFL Tests Its Antitrust Exemption | Wall Street Journal
- Pittsburgh’s place in the modern space race | Grandstand overview
- The Supreme Court’s decision on citizenship by birth will depend on the interpretation of 1 key phrase | Morgan Marietta
1 item
5. Hershey says it will return to the classic recipe for all Reese’s products after criticism
“Hershey said Wednesday it will utilize the classic recipes for all Reese’s products starting next year, a change that comes after the grandson of Reese’s founder criticized the company for switching to cheaper ingredients.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have always been made with real milk or murky chocolate and peanut butter. However, a compact number of Hershey’s and Reese’s products, such as mini Easter eggs, are currently made with a coating that contains less chocolate.
Hershey said it will transition these products to “classic milk and dark chocolate recipes” in 2027. AP
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