🪂 I’ve Got Friday On My Mind. And you probably do too.

PA Weather
🌤️ Monroeville | Partly Sunny, 74
☀️ Duncannon | Mostly Sunny, 78
🌤️ Newtown | Chance of showers before 11, Partly Sunny, 84

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (66-55) | Fri-Sun vs. Washington
⚾ Pirates (54-67) | Fri-Sun vs. Minnesota
⚾ Media Little League | Sat vs. Gray, Maine
⚽ Union (12-4-7) | Sat vs. Monterrey (Leagues Cup, 3rd Place)

What We’re Hearing
“Now more than ever, it is critical that we elect justices who are committed to fairness and equality to protect our democracy and hold out-of-touch politicians accountable.” – Breana Ross, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Votes.

Happy Birthday
Early cake and candles for Rep. Joanna McClinton (Sat.) and Sen. Scott E. Hutchinson (Sat.).

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Top Story

1. Biden Pays Respects to Former PA First Lady Ellen Casey

“President Joe Biden privately paid his respects Thursday to the mother of U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, who died last week in Biden’s hometown of Scranton.

Biden arrived at St. Peter’s Cathedral before visiting hours for Ellen Casey, who also was a former first lady of Pennsylvania. She was 91, and the widow of Pennsylvania Gov. Robert P. Casey.

“I just want to show my respect to the family,” Biden said after arriving in Pennsylvania.” (AP)

• ‘You Couldn’t Meet A Finer Lady’: Mourners Remember The Late Ellen Casey. (Scranton Times-Tribune)

Related

A Right-Wing Celeb Is Running For Congress In Bucks County. Scott Perry Played A Role (Sort Of).“A flash of intraparty intrigue this week in Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District, held by Bucks County Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, has Clout mulling two possible explanations.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Scott Perry Rents Offices from Man Who Assaulted Cops on Jan. 6. “Property records show that Congressman Scott Perry leases two district offices in the Harrisburg area from Lowell Gates, who was arrested earlier this month for assaulting police officers during the Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol.” (The Keystone)

Democratic Group Plans $10 Million Push to Protect Election Officials. “A group that works to elect Democrats as the top election officials in states around the country is planning a $10 million venture to pay for private security for election officials of both parties, register new voters and try to combat disinformation.” (New York Times)

State

2. Why Some of Shapiro’s Cabinet Picks Still Have ‘Acting’ Next to Their Title

“Seven months into his first term as Pennsylvania’s governor, two of Democrat Josh Shapiro’s picks for top cabinet posts haven’t been confirmed by the state Senate.

In practice, the distinction between an acting and confirmed secretary is minimal. Shapiro’s two acting secretaries, Debra Bogen of the Department of Health and Wendy Spicher of the Department of Banking and Securities, have essentially the same powers as cabinet officials approved by state senators.

But Bogen’s continued service in that role has roiled at least two Republican lawmakers who now want to curtail the powers of acting secretaries.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Shapiro Orders DEP Probe of Plum House Explosion. “Stating that he is “extremely concerned” after a house blew up in Plum over the weekend, killing six people and causing catastrophic damage, Gov. Josh Shapiro has broadened the probe into the disaster by ordering the state Department of Environmental Protection to launch an investigation.” (Tribune-Review)

PA Legislators Look To Move 2024 Primary For Passover. “As it stands, the primary is to be held April 23. The Jewish holiday of Passover begins the night prior and, per Jewish tradition, observant worshippers are to abstain from work during the first two and last two days. This work includes voting.” (WESA)

Planned Parenthood Focusing On Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court Race In New Ad. “The political arm of reproductive rights group Planned Parenthood is weighing in on the race to fill a vacant seat on the state Supreme Court this fall, launching a six-figure, statewide digital ad campaign against the Republican nominee.” (PA Capital-Star)

Mercuri Scrubs Website To Remove Anti-Abortion Stance. “Ain’t the Internet, grand? Using the tools available to all of us, a political science student at the University of Pittsburgh noticed a change in Rep. Rob Mercuri’s campaign website, now that he has declared his candidacy for the 17th Congressional District seat.” (PoliticsPA)

Legislation Proposed To Regulate Social Media Child Influencers. “Rep. Torren Ecker announced Thursday he will be introducing legislation to regulate social media child influencers and celebrities under Pennsylvania’s Child Labor Law.” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Former Somerset District Attorney Gets Prison Time For Attacking Woman

“Somerset County’s former elected District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas was sentenced to between just over two years to seven years in prison after a Somerset County jury found him guilty earlier this year of strangulation and criminal trespassing, both felonies, and simple assault, unlawful restraint, indecent assault and false imprisonment.” (AP)

• Thomas Gets Up To 7 Years In State Prison For Attack On Woman. (Tribune-Democrat)

Related

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Announces Affiliation With Centrist Forward Party. “Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. announced his “affiliation” with the centrist Forward Party on Thursday. He also accepted the third-party organization’s endorsement as he seeks re-election to a seventh term in office without, for the first time in his long tenure, the support of local Democrats.” (WESA)

• DA Zappala Video Briefing Draws Criticism, Raises Ethical Questions. (Tribune-Review)

Northeast Philly’s Mike Driscoll Says He, Too, Wants To Be City Council President. “The race for Philadelphia City Council president is getting crowded.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Rural Dems Gather In Jefferson County For ‘Demstock’. It’s a big deal when nearly 400 Dems from 16 counties in the Keystone State come together in Jefferson County for a weekend devoted to connecting rural PA Democrats. Welcome to ‘Demstock.’ (PoliticsPA)

Fayette Elections Officials Approve Recount In GOP Commissioners Race. “With little fanfare during a quick three-minute meeting Thursday afternoon, Fayette County’s elections board voted to recount the results in six precincts from the May primary that were being challenged in court.” (Observer-Reporter)

Allentown School Director, Lehigh Co. Commissioner Candidate Back NAACP Letter Alleging Discrimination In Allentown City Hall. “A month after the Allentown NAACP sent a letter to Mayor Matt Tuerk alleging widespread racism within city government, several community members backed up some of the complaints during a virtual meeting of the civil rights group Thursday evening and urged the organization to hold City Hall accountable.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• Shapiro Hypocrisy. (Trevor Taylor)
• Strangers May Be The Key To Democracy and Mental Health. (Jean Guerrero)
• Bravo For Expanding The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. Now Let’s Find A Better Way To Fund It. (Ray Landis)
• Right to Cover SNAP Thefts. (Citizens Voice)
• Troubling Trend In Journalism. (Lori Falce)

1 Thing

5. Does Everyone Have A Tattoo?

Seems that way. Nearly one-third of people in the US say they have a tattoo, and 22 percent say they have more than one, according to a Pew Research Center survey published this week.

Having ink is common across all genders, races, and socioeconomic levels, but there are notable trends.

• More women (38%) have at least one tattoo than men (27%).
• Over half of lesbian, gay, or bisexual Americans have at least one tattoo, compared to 31% of straight Americans.
• Youngsters under 30 are more likely to have a tattoo (41%) than people 65 and older (13%).

Major companies have only recently started to adapt their tattoo policies to attract new employees. Within the last two years, Disney, UPS, and Virgin Atlantic reversed their bans on visible tattoos at work. Even the US Army, which didn’t allow soldiers to have tattoos until 2015, eased its bans on hand and neck tattoos last year.

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