⚡ Hello Wednesday! Watch the weather in the tardy afternoon and evening.
Weather in Pennsylvania
⛈️ Harborcreek | Showers, thunderstorms, 80
🌤️Boalsburg | Partly clear, with a possible thunderstorm, 87
☀️ Avocado | Mostly Sunny, 91
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (52-27) | Detroit 1-4 | Wednesday vs. Detroit
⚾ Pirates (38-41) | Cincinnati 9-5 | Wednesday vs. Cincinnati
👂 What we hearThe head of the National Transportation Safety Board said Norfolk Southern repeatedly tried to interfere with the agency’s investigation into the East Palestine derailment.
🗓️ What’s happening today. The House and Senate meet at 11 a.m.
🗞️ Today’s Headlines >> Your inbox. Where can you find the latest information on political events in the Keystone State? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8am. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and sign up now.
The best story
1. Black PA voters want more black history, less book banning
“More than half of black voters in Pennsylvania oppose banning books from public school libraries, and a majority want African American history taught in schools, according to a recent exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll.
Nearly 70% of the 500 voters surveyed said they opposed or strongly opposed banning certain types of books in schools, while about 96% of those surveyed said they supported teaching African American history in schools.” (USA today)
Related
The Trump campaign accuses the Democratic Group of “election interference” – quoting Trump. “The ad, which is running on some websites in the state, is paid for by PA Values super PAC and is listed as such, but is presented to viewers as coming from Trump.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)
Rep. Summer Lee introduces legislation to ensure the right to vote in federal elections. “The Voting Rights Act would allow Americans to challenge in court “any policy that unduly restricts access to the ballot” and would make it more hard for states to implement policies that make it more hard to vote.” (Penn Capital Star)
Pennsylvania Jewish Democrats accuse GOP Senate candidate of profiting from ‘anti-Semitic’ online platform. “In Pennsylvania’s hotly contested Senate race, Sen. Bob Casey and Jewish elected officials are accusing their GOP challenger of profiting from his investment in Rumble, a video platform that has amplified far-right anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.” (Forward)
Bob Casey’s pro-life betrayal. “One of the challenges pro-life advocates face today is that pro-abortion sentiment on the political left has migrated and entered mainstream politics. Case in point: Bob Casey, who in the past has billed himself as a “pro-life Democrat,” has officially dropped even that pretense.” (National Review)
Lafayette College will not host a vice presidential debate in the fall. “Excitement about a possible vice presidential debate on September 25 at Lafayette College and Easton faded on Monday. (PoliticsPA)
PA-01: Internal investigation shows that Ehasz is getting closer to Fitzpatrick. “A new poll from progressive research firm Upswing Research & Strategy shows the race in Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District is getting tighter.” (PoliticsPA)
Country
2. Shapiro and state legislators seek compromise on education funding
“Ahead of the June 30 deadline to finalize the state’s $48 billion budget, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pushing their priorities to strike a deal that will change how public education is funded in Pennsylvania.
The pending change follows a 2023 Commonwealth Court ruling that found the state’s public education funding formula to be unfair, unconstitutional and targeted Governor Josh Shapiro and the state legislature to solve the problem.” (WHY)
Related
The House passed a bill ensuring access to contraceptives in Pennsylvania“In a bipartisan vote of 133 to 69, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation that would add state-level protections for contraceptive access in the Keystone State.” (PoliticsPA)
- A bill providing access to contraception in Pennsylvania, thanks to dozens of GOP House votes. (AP)
RSLC unveils $38 million plan to win over state legislatures. “While most voters’ eyes are focused on the presidential race, with occasional glances at the U.S. Senate race, the Republican State Leadership Committee unveiled a $38 million plan to defend its majority in the state legislature and regain the one where is in the minority.”PoliticsPA)
PA Senate committee votes to block funding for colleges that abandon or boycott Israel. “The Senate State Government Committee voted Tuesday to advance a bill that would block the flow of state funds to colleges and universities that boycott or divest from Israeli companies for political reasons.” (Penn Capital Star)
PA’s only black Republican elected to state government did not attend Trump’s rally in North Philadelphia. “Pennsylvania Auditor General Tim DeFoor, the first person of color to hold statewide office, has continually distanced himself from Trump during his tenure as the state’s fiscal watchdog.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Key swing group up for grabs in Battleground PA: Nikki Haley voters
“Ryszard Speicher AND Maria Gensheimer are lifelong Republicans and lifelong residents of Erie County. A sign that until recently hung on the lawn of their suburban home pointed to the political homelessness they feel within their party and community.
The pair represent a key group of voters – in this key battleground county, as well as across the country – who are up for grabs in what is expected to be an extremely competitive general election. While many of these voters will ultimately return home and support the GOP ticket, others are considering an endorsement President Joe Biden — or casting another protest vote in November.” (NBC News)
Related
Podcast: Philadelphia Pride with Rue Landau. “June is a time to recognize the contributions of the LGBTQ community. We meet with Philadelphia’s first openly gay City Council member for an exclusive perspective on what she’s hearing across the city over the last 130 days of this historic election cycle.” (Kitchen table politics)
York County is hiring a new elections director, promoting from office. “Bryan Sheaffer has been with the office since 2021, most recently serving as acting director following the departure of Julie Haertsch.” (Shipment from York)
Emily Cook Named Full-Time Luzerne County Elections Director. “Cook has served as acting director of elections since the resignation of former director Eryn Harvey in February.” (Voice of Citizens)
Officials are taking steps to ensure election integrity in Tioga County. “Election and party officials in Tioga County, Pennsylvania met in a private meeting on Tuesday, June 25, to discuss people’s concerns about election integrity as the November 2024 election approaches.” (WENY)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
1 item
5. Mo’ne Davis returns to Diamond to honor black baseball pioneers
“When Mo’ne Davis received an invitation to compete in the inaugural Hall of Fame East-West Classic, she had to think about it. She hadn’t played baseball in years and knew the competition would be fierce. Plus, she was in her last semester of graduate school at Columbia University and wasn’t sure if her schedule would allow for such a trip. Ultimately, the opportunity was too special to pass up.
Davis, 23, wore a Kansas City Monarchs jersey to the game, a nod to her South Philadelphia youth team, the Anderson Monarchs, named after the former Negro League team. Nearly 10 years after she was eliminated by two hits in the Little League World Series, she entered in the fifth inning, replacing DexterFowler in center field and quickly caught a line drive. (Questioner from Philadelphia)
Thank you for starting your morning with us.
Please invite your colleagues
to sign up for the PoliticsPA Guide
