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Weather in Pennsylvania
🌤️Irwin | Mostly bright, with a chance of rain, 71
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☀️ Royersford | Sunny, 80
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (38-17) | San Francisco 4-8 | Tuesday-Wednesday vs. San Francisco
⚾ Pirates (25-29) | Tuesday-Wednesday vs. Detroit
⚽ Union (4-6-4) | Charlotte 0-0 | Wednesday vs. Toronto
🎂 Happy birthday. Cake and candles for Senator Lynda Schlegel Culver AND Representative Tina Pickett.
🗞️ Pennsylvania. The ultimate swing state. Where can you find the latest information on political events in the Keystone State? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Guide. 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. Trump’s Hush Money verdict could come this week. Here’s what each result could mean for the election
“Twelve jurors in New York will make history by revealing the verdict in the first criminal trial of a former US president.
The decision could impact some voters in a tight presidential race in key swing states like Pennsylvania six months before the election.
Closing speeches of the former president Donald Trump the hush money trial is scheduled for Tuesday, with jury deliberations likely to begin Wednesday.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)
Related
President Biden will return to Philadelphia to form a coalition aimed at boosting support among Black voters. “Biden is scheduled to speak Wednesday at Girard College, the historic boarding school in Fairmount.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)
Trump, used to cordial crowds, faces repeated boos during speech at Libertarian Convention. “Donald Trump was repeatedly booed during his speech at the Libertarian Party National Convention on Saturday evening, with many in the audience shouting insults and condemning him for things like his Covid-19 policies, running massive federal deficits and lying about his political history.” (AP)
Libertarians choose Chase Oliver as their presidential candidate. “The Libertarian Party announced Sunday evening that its delegates have selected former Georgia Senate candidate Chase Oliver as their presidential candidate after he said goodbye to former President Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.” (Axles)
Advertising spending during the 2024 presidential election is mainly allocated to swing states, especially PA. “More than $70 million was spent on advertising (television, radio, satellite and digital) across the country, with particular emphasis on seven states. Over $20 million has been spent in Pennsylvania.” (WHY)
Country
2. Will PA suburban women and abortion rights decide the 2024 elections?
“In the middle of an affluent Main Line suburb, near winding private driveways leading to century-old mansions, stand the modern office buildings that distinguish this town as a center for life sciences and health care.
Thirty minutes west of Center City Philadelphia, this 34,000-person Delaware County community is part of Pennsylvania Democrats’ target base: affluent, health care-driven suburbs from Philadelphia’s four counties to the Lehigh Valley and central Pennsylvania.
This year, as Democrats face sobering polls that show nostalgia for the Trump presidency, they are citing reproductive rights as a motivating issue to give Biden winning vote margins in Pennsylvania, no matter how slim they are.” (PennLive)
Related
She defeated the party-backed candidate for PA treasurer. Donations are starting to come in. “The largest donor to Erin McClelland’s primary campaign for Pennsylvania treasurer was Erin McClelland herself. Before the April 23 election, she loaned her campaign $100,000, raising just $13,000 — none of which came from political action committees. She won anyway, upsetting a well-financed, party-backed candidate. (PA reflector)
Pennsylvania donates $2 million to food banks. “Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced Friday that more than $2 million will go to 57 groups to “fight hunger and food insecurity and increase Pennsylvanians’ access to healthy food wherever they live,” according to a press release. (Central Square)
Improving economic development in Pennsylvania continues to face obstacles. “Everyone – Republicans, Democrats, the private sector – agrees this is critical to the short- and long-term success of this institution. But there is little agreement on how to achieve this.” (State of the city)
Several states have raised taxes on online sports betting; Will PA lawmakers follow suit? “Could Pennsylvania lawmakers have the appetite to raise revenue by increasing the tax rate on the lucrative online sports betting business?” (PennLive)
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Prominent US Pronatalists on Having ‘Lots of Babies’ to Save the World and Running for the PA House
“The Collinses didn’t tell me that Simone was eight months pregnant when we planned to spend Saturday with them at their home in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, but I guess it shouldn’t have been a surprise. They are the poster children of the pronatalist movement, whose mission is to save humanity by having as many children as possible.
They plan to have at least seven children. This is not Quiverfull, the fundamentalist Christian belief that large families are a blessing from God. The Collinses are atheists; they believe in science and data, study and research.
They hope that this will be the beginning of their political careers. Simone will run for Pennsylvania state government as a Republican.” (Guardian)
Related
The number of local newspapers closing in the U.S. is increasing each year. A local legislator is trying to sluggish it down in Pennsylvania with a fresh tax break. “According to Northwestern University, an average of 2.5 newspapers were closed per week in 2023 compared to two per week the previous year. State Rep. Josh Siegel hopes two new bills will turn things around, at least in Pennsylvania.” (WFMZ)
Action for Lights and Cameras: Leaders and unions are pushing for a substantial boost in state tax incentives for film production as budget deadline approaches. “200 supporters of increasing the incentive to $300 million rallied in Harrisburg on May 6, emphasizing that this measure is an economic boost, not a handout, but a rebate for film production companies working here and spending money in Pennsylvania. ”(Union Progress in Pittsburgh)
Former AP State Representative. Frank W. Yandrisevits dies. “He served as a state representative in the Pennsylvania Legislature from 1984 to 1990 and 1992 to 1994.” (CNHI News)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
1 item
5. Best School Districts in Pennsylvania
Two Allegheny County school districts top the rankings in the latest rankings from the Pittsburgh Business Times.
There was a change in the state’s overall rankings this year from last year’s rankings, with two Pittsburgh-area districts swapping places for the top two spots. The Fox Chapel Area School District moved into first place, displacing Upper St. Clair, which came in second place.
Places 3 and 4 were taken by Lower Merion and Radnor Township, followed by Peters Township. (Philadelphia Business Journal $$)
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