August 7: Expansion

Happy Monday Morning. The weekends always seem to go by quickly, don’t they?

 

PA Weather
Philadelphia | Heavy Rain, Severe T-Storms later, 87
Harrisburg | Mostly Cloudy, Severe T-Storms later, 88
Pittsburgh | T-storms, 83

 

PA Sports
Phillies (61-51) | Kansas City 8-4 | Mon-Thu vs. Washington
Pirates (50-61) | Milwaukee 4-1 | Mon-Thu vs. Atlanta
USWNT | Sweden 0-0 (PK: 4-5)
Union | Mon vs. NY Red Bulls (Leagues Cup Rd of 16)

 

What We’re Hearing
“She is tough as nails. You can’t argue with that,” said state Sen. Tim Kearney (D-Delaware) about Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward. 

 

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Top Story

 

1. Property tax and rent rebate program will soon serve more older Pennsylvanians. 

“Thousands more older and disabled Pennsylvanians will qualify for help from a landmark state property tax rebate program, after Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a major expansion into law on Friday.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Shapiro signs expansion of property tax rent and rebate program. “Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday signed into law an expansion of the property tax and rent rebate (PTRR) program, which will cover almost 175,000 more senior citizens, and double rebates for many of the nearly 400,000 people who already participate in the program.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Shapiro signs historic property tax/rent rebate bill in Scranton. “Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday said when he traveled across the Commonwealth on the campaign trail last year, he heard first-hand from seniors who told him that more needed to be done to help them keep up with rising prices.” (Times Leader

Pennsylvania expands property tax/rent rebate program. “Governor Josh Shapiro signed a bill Friday that expanded the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program.” (ABC27)

 

State

2. Pa. Legislature’s unfinished budget business leaves uncertainty for schools, human services. 

“Gov. Josh Shapiro’s signature on Pennsylvania’s $45.5 billion budget brought relief Thursday across the commonwealth as the new school year approaches and quarterly payments come due.

But his administration’s decision to hold back hundreds of millions in funds for a handful of programs leaves uncertainty for some as school districts work to reconcile their budgets with the money they expect to receive from the state.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Related

The main Pa. budget bill is done. But the budget fight isn’t over. “Gov. Josh Shapiro’s signing on Thursday of a $45.45 billion spending bill erased growing concerns about delays in funding for schools and other organizations, but it also opened a new and potentially messy phase of state budget negotiations.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Pitt, Penn State funding still in limbo despite Shapiro signing main Pa. budget bill. “Funding for Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities, including the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State, remains up in the air despite Gov. Josh Shapiro’s signature on the main budget bill.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Kim Ward is a ‘tough as nails’ force in Pennsylvania’s budget drama. “The daughter of a shoe store worker and a machinist, she’s the first woman to hold the state Senate’s top job.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

 

Around The Commonwealth

3. PA-01: Houck Announces Challenge To Fitzpatrick’s Seat In Congress.

“It appears that Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-01) will not only face a repeat challenge from the left, but will now face a primary challenger from his own ranks.

Mark Houck, a pro-life activist, announced he will challenge the four-term Republican in the 2024 GOP primary.” (PoliticsPA)

 

Related

Pa. health care providers tell lawmakers the state’s rural hospitals are in crisis. “Pennsylvania’s rural hospitals are dealing with a shortage of physicians and mental health providers that has become dire, leaving patients in rural communities with dwindling options for care. That was the message members of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania heard on Thursday during a hearing with hospital and health care center executives, and public health experts.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Lt. Gov. Davis urges continued relief of health care costs during Uniontown stop. “During a stop in Uniontown Friday to discuss health care costs, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis said about 11% of all Pennsylvanians have medical debt that’s already made it into collections.” (Observer-Reporter)

A Pa. state senator wants to end legacy admissions at Pennsylvania universities after affirmative action ruling. “A Pennsylvania state senator hopes to stop legacy admissions at Pennsylvania universities as the practice of considering alumni relations during the admissions process becomes increasingly scrutinized.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Bill to boost solar in Pa. schools has bipartisan support. “A proposal in the state legislature would help boost renewables in Pennsylvania by easing the process for schools to install solar panels.” (StateImpact Pennsylvania

Hemp and Pennsylvania’s ‘bio-based future’. “A circle of farmers in Pennsylvania have embraced hemp as state and federal money encourages growth of the industry.” (The Center Square)

The ‘cold, hard truth’ of emergency medical services. “The average commonwealth resident expects help to arrive with immediacy after a 911 call ends. However, the “cold, hard truth” – according Adams Area Fire District Lt. Taylor Goodlin – is that this expectation is not guaranteed.” (The Center Square)

Pennsylvania is getting closer to decriminalizing psychedelics, and advocates in Philly are making a push. “Pennsylvania could soon join the flood of cities and states opening the door to decriminalization, research, and even legalization of psychedelics.” (Billy Penn)

5 takeaways from our ‘Lost in Transition’ project about Pa.’s struggling mortgage assistance program. “A crucial program to help Pennsylvania homeowners recover from the pandemic is still struggling to get the money out almost five months into the state’s attempts to overhaul it.” (Spotlight PA)

Gainey administration plans months of community activities to help curb violence. “We speak with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey about the latest in his Plan for Peace, his administration’s new Office of Equal Protection, and his thoughts about the now-public staffing study of the city’s police force.” (WESA)

Jim Kenney raised money to boost progressive candidates but spent it on consultants and restaurant tabs. “Of the more than $780,000 that Kenney PAC has spent over the last three years, only about $60,000 went to other campaigns. The money has also gone to political operatives and miscellaneous expenses.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

HUD announces $50M investment in Southwest Philly for affordable housing and community development. “Officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development made a visit to Southwest Philadelphia Friday to announce a $50 million investment in affordable housing and community development.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

A Progressive Powerhouse’s Surprise Layoffs Fuel Concerns About The Left’s Future. “Justice Democrats played a critical role in electing “The Squad.” Now it will have to do more with less.” (Huffington Post)

​​Pa. court reverses PUC decision on East Whiteland sewer sale to Aqua. “In an important ruling for taxpayers, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court reversed an order from the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, which approved Aqua Pennsylvania’s acquisition of East Whiteland Township’s sewer system.” (WHYY)

AG Michelle Henry meets with Philly students, learns how gun violence impacts them, their mental health. “After a school year when 199 Philadelphia students were shot and 33 were killed, Philadelphia students told Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry at a round-table Friday how the bloodshed has affected them and their mental health.” (KYW Newsradio)

14 attorneys general calling on Biden administration to address ‘plastic pollution crisis’. “More than a dozen state attorneys general – including from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware – are calling on the Biden administration to come up with a comprehensive strategy to address what they call the “plastic pollution crisis.”” (KYW Newsradio)

DA Stephen Zappala raises concerns over consulting group’s report on Pittsburgh Police. “District Attorney Stephen Zappala is raising concerns over a contract Mayor Ed Gainey’s Office has with a consulting group.” (KDKA News)

Bustling in Butler: County’s population surge sparks a positive vibe — and a few headaches. “Between 2020-2022 the county added more than 3,200 residents — the biggest gain in Western Pennsylvania.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Western Pa. firefighters’ convention addresses a shortage of volunteers. “On Friday morning, the Western Pennsylvania Firemen’s Association, meeting in Arnold, heard plans for a study on why the number of volunteers has been steadily dropping.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Fayette County district attorney injured in Connellsville car accident. “Fayette County District Attorney Richard Bower was injured Wednesday night after he was involved in a two-vehicle crash in Connellsville.” (Observer-Reporter)

Why does street paving in Philly take so long?. “It’s an annual tradition that likely means weeks of ripped-up roads.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

What is straw purchasing a gun? And how will tackling it slow the flow of guns in Philadelphia?. “Philadelphia is the latest city to crack down on straw purchases in an effort to curb gun violence.” (WHYY)

Free speech group says Penn State’s funding cut to student newspaper suggests lack of support for free expression. “A group that advocates for speech and press freedoms is criticizing Penn State University’s decision to eliminate funding for its student newspaper, The Daily Collegian, saying the cut suggests the university does not truly support free expression.” (Tribune-Review)

 

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

 

1 Thing

5. No one in the U.S. eats dinner as early as Pennsylvanians, new report says

“Pennsylvania puts the “early bird” in early-bird dinners, data show.

A new analysis on when Americans eat dinner shows that of all 50 states, people in Pennsylvania eat the earliest. According to Nathan Yau, creator of the popular data visualization site Flowing Data, the average Pennsylvania household starts eating dinner at 5:37 p.m.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

 

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One Response

  1. 5:37 PM is early for dinner? PA miners would go to work very early in the morning so having dinner time at 5PM was common. A lot of industrial jobs lead to 5 o’clock being dinner time. No wonder more and more people are joining the ranks of the obese because weight loss experts say the later you eat the heavier you may be. Heavier meals later at night encourages weight gain.

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