The state Democratic Party picks its nominees for the 7th and 15th Congressional district special elections, and the Ups & Downs from the week. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!
Pa. Dems Pick Scanlon and Wild for PA-7 and PA-15 Special Elections: The Pennsylvania Democratic Party announced that Mary Gay Scanlon in the PA-7 special election and Susan Wild in the PA-15 special election for some of the strangest special elections this year.
5/25 Ups & Downs: Independent voters see a way to voting in the primary, redistricting reform moves forward, and voter turnout continues to lag. See who made this week’s Ups & Downs!
Statewide
StateImpact: Conservatives join forces, seek a voice in energy-issues debate
City & State: Winners and Losers for the week ending May 25
Philadelphia
Philly Mag: The Badass Days of Boring Bob Casey
Philly Mag: Will the Soda Tax Be Jim Kenney’s Waterloo?
Inquirer: Yardley man has terminal illness, but can’t support GOP ‘right to try’
Inquirer: All Starbucks stores closed this afternoon for racial-bias training after Philly incident: Here’s what you should know
Inquirer: Philly property-tax abatement comes under scrutiny as Council weighs how to fund schools
Inquirer: Ex-AG Kathleen Kane’s conviction affirmed by Pa. appeals court
Inquirer: Rich Lazer to return to Kenney administration
WHYY: City Council tweaks bill requiring developers to provide more parking in Philly neighborhoods
SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Montgomery County lawmaker wants only sex offenders on state sex offender registry
Daily Local: Dems tap Mary Gay Scanlon as candidate for 7th District special election
Daily Local: Chester County families advocate for stricter DUI laws
The Intelligencer: Sen. Toomey to head opioid overuse field hearing in Bensalem
Delco Times: Chester gets another fiscal lifeline; recommended for 3-year plan to exit distressed status
Pittsburgh
WESA: Women Make History In Pennsylvania Primaries, Look Ahead To November
WESA: Based On Registration, Young Pennsylvanians Seem Really Excited To Vote
WESA: City Commission Hearing Criticizes Grocery Store Wages
WPXI: Gov. Wolf hosts meeting on opioid epidemic
Post-Gazette: Prosecutor Peter Phipps clears Senate Judiciary Committee, one step closer to becoming federal judge
Post-Gazette: PWSA would be ‘far smarter’ to expand lead filter offering, county official says
Post-Gazette: Port Authority moves to final design for Pittsburgh-to-Oakland bus system
Tribune Review: Westmoreland honors its fallen veterans on Memorial Day
Tribune Review: State parks scramble to hire, prepare for summer season
Tribune Review: Six more state park beaches, all in Western Pennsylvania, to be smoke-free
Southwest
WJAC: Gov. Wolf to join other Pennsylvania dignitaries for annual Showcase for Commerce
Beaver County Times: Drunken driving victims’ families push for bill targeting repeat offenders
Altoona Mirror: Outsiders spent big to shape election
NEPA
Times-Tribune: Mayor delivers optimistic ‘state of the city’ address
Times Leader: UGI PNG to pay less for fuel, customers to benefit
Times Leader: Luzerne County Councilman Harry Haas suggests $5 homestead rebate
South Central
LNP: Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine makes opioids a priority
LNP: Pennsylvania officials preach safety as they kick off amusement park season at Dutch Wonderland
LNP: Courthouse may soon undergo $19 million in renovations
York Dispatch: Gov. Wolf, lawmakers aren’t panicking as budget push nears
Patriot News: #MeToo and escalating scandals have changed backdrop for pending report on priest sexual abuse
Patriot News: Dawn White announces departure from ABC27
Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: State representative criticizes governor’s plan for assessing drug abusers
Reading Eagle: Another public hearing set on landfill expansion in Earl Township
Reading Eagle: Reading School Board votes to issue photo IDs for parent, guardians
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley health care providers march toward telehealth, but insurers slow to follow
North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Why local businesses can’t fill high-paying job openings, and how it impacts the community
Erie Times-News: Intern to help analyze Erie crime data
Erie Times-News: Erie chamber wants next CEO to focus on economic development
Opinion
Delco Times: Editorial: Time to allow Independents into the primary party
Altoona Mirror: State has proven it can go without shale tax for now
Inquirer: Let’s open primaries to all, and watch real change happen | Editorial
Inquirer: Why Pennsylvania’s race for governor is so harsh so early
Tribune Review: Colin McNickle: Port Authority’s costly bus service
Tribune Review: Legislature needs to take school funding reform seriously
Post-Gazette: A city for all kinds: Develop Pittsburgh housing to serve all markets
Patriot News: Here’s why a Pa. Senate panel voted the way it did on redistricting reform | Mike Folmer
Patriot News: It’s time for Pa. to finally switch to open primaries | Editorial
LNP: Pennsylvania House lawmakers should be motivated to act on domestic violence measure (but ‘should’ differs than ‘will’)