Good morning! Greetings to Michigan.
Headlines. PA Loses Marijuana Revenue to Neighbors as Legalization Efforts Stall. National Democrats are targeting 10 PA state races. Data center NDA sparks ‘secret deal’ debate. The first underground park in PA.
Your morning, pick me up. I howl for you. Black Keys
Weather in Pennsylvania
Clarion | Shrinking clouds, 40 Wellsboro | Partly shining, 34
Lebanon | Sunny, 46
Sports PA 
Phillies (6-4) | San Francisco 6-4 | Tuesday vs. San Francisco Pirates (6-4) | San Diego 0-5 | Tuesday vs. San Diego Sixers (43-36) | San Antonio 102-115 | Thu in Houston
Leaflets (39-26-12) | Tuesday in New Jersey Penguins (40-22-16) | Thu in New Jersey
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The most vital story
1. PA Loses Marijuana Revenue to Neighbors as Legalization Effort Stalls
“A few miles on the New York side of the Pennsylvania border, the Organic Blooms parking lot begins to fill with cars as the weekend approaches on a Friday afternoon in February.
Half of the vehicles come from New York. The other half has Keystone State license plates.
Sherry Warner discovered a recreational marijuana dispensary when she was driving from her home in Erie to work in Jamestown, New York, when she saw a billboard promoting the five-month-old shop. Since then, Warner has been going there to buy THC-infused gummies and vaporizers. | Erie Times-News
Elsewhere
Democrats are turning Republicans’ arguments against them in midterm races. “Republicans won in 2024 on a promise to lower the cost of living, but high gas pump prices frustrate voters and pose a strong line of attack for midterms.” | Washington Post Office
Fact-checking Republicans’ misleading claims about a problematic election. “President Trump, his administration and GOP lawmakers have reported widespread problems with mailed-in ballots and fraudulent votes, but the evidence does not support them.” | New York Times
Trump’s fresh DHS secretary unveils plan to punish airports in sanctuary cities. “Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Monday that the Trump administration is considering withdrawing customs officers from airports in so-called sanctuary cities, a move that would effectively cancel international flights to most of the country’s largest hubs, including Philadelphia.” | known
Country
2. National Democrats attack Pennsylvania’s 10th House and Senate races
“The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee says it is focusing on 10 Pennsylvania General Assembly races this election cycle.
The committee is seeking to assist re-elect six House Democrats and two Senate Democrats and unseat two House Republicans. | abc27
Elsewhere
PA-10: Stelson calls out DC Republicans over skyrocketing gas prices. “Standing just steps from a Harrisburg gas station where the price of gas has soared to $4.24, Democratic congressional candidate Janelle Stelson on Monday blamed Republicans in Washington for the rising prices of gasoline, groceries and other everyday goods.” | City and state
PA-07: April 7 forum showing 7th place Democrats. “The four Democrats running in the May 19 primary election for the 7th Congressional District will meet for a forum on April 7 at 6:30 p.m. in Alumnae Hall at Cedar Crest College.” | Lehigh Valley Chair
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Data center non-disclosure agreements spark debate over ‘secret deals’
“A naturally peaceful stretch of fields and woodland, situated between the two cooling towers of a nuclear power station and a bustling shopping center, has resulted in the City of Limerick receiving a request for a different kind of silence: a non-disclosure agreement.
Data center transactions are happening everywhere. Huge energy demand, water operate and potential noise have brought the proposals into the spotlight. Now a mystery has been added to this list.” | Central Square
Elsewhere
The Trump administration is ending transgender protections in some school districts, including Pennsylvania. “The Department of Education said Monday that it has terminated agreements made by previous administrations with five school districts, including one in Pennsylvania, and a university that were intended to uphold the rights and protections of transgender students.” | AP
In the face of budget problems, part-time attorneys in Dauphin County receive costly benefits. No other county offers. “Facing a fiscal crisis that has led to two massive tax increases in the last two years, Dauphin County spends nearly $330,000 annually on salaries, benefits and pensions for attorneys who work part-time in county offices.” | PennLive
The latest attempt to change Philadelphia’s opt-out rules will no longer be included in the May primary election. “Latest efforts to allow City Council members to remain in their seats while running for state or federal office are not an option.” | WHY
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- For a world looking for hopeful holiday messages, Trump’s blasphemous social media tirade stands out for all the wrong reasons | Questioner from Philadelphia
- Shapiro chooses cents over common sense in the marijuana legalization debate | Stephen F. Gambescio
- Two Democrats, Two Visions: Who Can Finally Beat Scott Perry? | Joyce M. Davis
- The SAVE Act and what “democracy” looks like | Richard F. Kosich
- The region grows together – or not at all | David L. Cohen and Christopher Franklin
- PA 7th Congress Racing and Prediction Markets | Bernie O’Hare
1 item
5. The 125th state park opens in Pennsylvania – underground for the first time
“Pennsylvania officials announced the opening of Laurel Caverns State Park on Monday, marking the first underground state park in the commonwealth and the 125th state park overall.
The 435-acre park in Farmington, about 50 miles from Pittsburgh, is centered around the largest and deepest limestone cave in Pennsylvania.
The state park will officially open to the public on Earth Day, April 22, and will remain open through October.” | LehighValley Live
Thank you for starting your Tuesday with us.
Today it’s probably warmer in the cave than outside. See you tomorrow.
