🃏  Just Another Manic Monday. How can Susannah Hoffs be 64? 

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76ers (4-0) | Brooklyn 96-88 | Next: Celtics/Hawks
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What We’re Hearing
“$787 million is a lot of accountability. So I appreciate that everybody loves a dramatic trial. But don’t confuse suspense with accountability. And I think that Fox was held accountable.” – Rod Smolla

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Sara Innamorato.

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Top Story

1. Lawyer For Dominion Team Says Settlement Is ‘Victory For American People’

A member of the Dominion Voting Systems’ legal team says even with the $787.5 million settlement with Fox News, the decision is still “a victory for the American people.”

Rod Smolla was recruited to be part of the Dominion legal team from the very beginning as an expert on defamation and libel law.

“I was the only lawyer for defending the motion to dismiss the case if Fox tried to get the case tossed out right at the beginning,” he said during a Friday morning interview. “And then we were successful in defeating that. A few weeks ago, I was one of the three Dominion lawyers that argued on the motion for summary judgment. And when the judge granted that paved the way for the drama of the last week.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Fox’s Settlement With Dominion Unlikely To Cost $787.5 Million. “Fox Corp.’s $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over defamation charges is eye-popping, but the ultimate cost to the media company is likely to be much lower.” (AP)

• Fox News Faces New Legal Threat From Smartmatic. (The Hill)

After Supreme Court Abortion Drug Order, Both Sides In PA Say Fight Isn’t Over. “Hours after the Supreme Court preserved a woman’s right to access the most commonly used abortion drug, Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a statement saying he was relieved by the order, but acknowledged the fight is far from over.” (PennLive)

Democratic Lieutenant Governors Mobilize Cash As Early Backers Of Biden-Harris Ticket. “Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis said that he has “no doubt” that a Joe Biden victory might come down to the Commonwealth again in 2024 after the Keystone State’s critical role in securing the presidency for Biden in 2020.” (ABC News)

Gun Violence Is Actually Worse In Red States. It’s Not Even Close. “Listen to the southern right talk about violence in America and you’d think New York City was as dangerous as Bakhmut on Ukraine’s eastern front.” (POLITICO)

State

2. PA House Reconvenes Today

“The Pennsylvania House of Representatives returns to session on Monday for its first voting day in nearly two months with a number of bipartisan legislative priorities on the table.

But one initiative that has long enjoyed strong support from both sides of the aisle could test the readiness of House Democrats and Senate Republicans to dismantle a partisan wall standing in the way of popular legislation.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

What’s Happening Today
(H) Transportation, 9a
(H) Judiciary, 930a
(S) Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, 10a
(H) Environmental Resources & Energy; Game & Fisheries; Labor & Industry 10a
(H) Education, Insurance, State Government, 11a
(S) Appropriations, off the floor
(S) State Government, off the floor
(S) Senate Convenes at 1p

Related

Affordability Remains Top Issue For PA’s State-Related Universities During Budget Process. “Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities are asking the legislature for a long-awaited budget increase, but the schools’ leaders have not said whether more money would prevent future tuition hikes.” (Spotlight PA)

Proposed Legislation Would Lower PA’s Minimum Driving Age To 15. “How young is too young to drive? Should the minimum age be raised in Pennsylvania? There’s legislation making its way through Harrisburg to lower the age for a learner’s permit to 15. ” (CBS Pittsburgh)

Around The Commonwealth

3. What Exactly Is Ranked-Choice Voting And How Would It Change The Philly Mayor’s Race?

“A lot of people are running for mayor of Philadelphia. With several candidates still in contention as the May 16 primary nears, the city’s next leader could be decided by a very small margin — because no matter how close the contest is, whoever gets the most votes wins.

Elections don’t have to work that way.

Center City resident Russell Richie is one of a growing number of people advocating for a type of reform he thinks could’ve been particularly helpful in this race: ranked-choice voting.” (Billy Penn)

• Notable Mayoral Endorsements. (Axios Philadelphia)

Related

A Pro-Matt Dugan Poll Shows He’s Got His Work Cut Out For Him In DA Race. “Matt Dugan needs to run a basically flawless campaign to overcome a 30-point head start for Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Report Identifies 36 Local PA Officials As Possible Threats To Elections. “A non-profit organization released a report identifying 36 Pennsylvania local officials of exhibiting anti-democratic tendencies or actions ahead of the 2022 elections.” (PoliticsPA)

Johnstown Plans Ceremony To Mark Exiting Of Act 47. “A total of 11,201 days have passed since Johnstown entered Act 47 on Aug. 21, 1992. Less than one week remains until the city exits the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s program for financially distressed municipalities.” (Tribune-Democrat)

Philly Businesses Want Tax Cuts. The Next City Council Might Be Divided. “Philadelphia business groups have long argued that the city should lower its business and wage taxes. Some candidates running for City Council this year agree, while others don’t — emphasizing an ideological divide between progressive and moderate Democrats over the direction of city government.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

How Did York City’s Elected Controller Get The OK To Sign Off On Contracts For Her Nonprofit? “How did AliceAnne Frost, York City’s elected controller, get the OK to sign off on contracts totaling $317,470 for the nonprofit she also led?” (York Dispatch)

Erie County Executive Davis Is Due In Court Over Restraining Orders. Here Are His Options. “Erie County Executive Brenton Davis will have two options when he walks into a courtroom Monday to face two temporary restraining orders that a judge granted against him late last week. Davis can fight the orders. Or he can consent to allowing the temporary orders to become final for a period of months or years.” (Erie News-Times)

Voter’s Guide For Contested Crawford County Races. (Meadville Tribune)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

Editorial

• Why Did Fitzgerald Pick Doven-Hallam Race For Endorsement? (Tribune-Review)

Opinion

• Dominion’s Riches Come At Our Expense. (Shanin Specter)
• How Pittsburgh Pushed Back On Hate – And Brought The World Along. (Gene Collier)
• It Is Long Past Time To Answer The Call For A $15 Minimum Wage. (Claire Kovach)
• The Tree Of Life – And A Plea For Life. (Michael Zoosman)
• The Next Mayor Needs An Infrastructure Agenda. (Joseph Certaine)

1 Thing

5. Brits Want To Know: Is Scranton A Real Place?

“You miss 100% of the Google searches you don’t try.” — Wayne Gretzky — Michael Scott — United Kingdom residents watching “The Office” and asking about Scranton.

A new report in honor of the upcoming 10th anniversary of “The Office’s” finale reveals that thousands of viewers from the United Kingdom continue to wonder if Scranton is a real place.

Every month, an average of 400 people in the United Kingdom google: “Is Scranton a real place?” — amounting to nearly 5,000 people each year. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

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